[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Heron behavior



Folks,

I was at Duke Gardens photographing ducks and geese(see my Website for the 
photos) late Wednesday afternoon. I was on this rock just large enough for 
me to sit on out on the ice and only 6 foot from the edge of open water. I 
had Canada Geese and Hooded Mergansers,  a female Common Goldeneye, a male 
Northern Shoveler, a male Northern Pintail, exotic White-cheeked Pintail 
and exotic Red-crested Pocard all very close(sometimes with in reach) 
getting bread from visitors. Just after the people left a Coopers Hawk 
swept in a grabbed a House Sparrow to the alarm of all the ducks and geese.

After I left the rock a Great Blue Heron that is usually on top the wood 
duck house across the pond flew in to boos and hisses from the geese and 
ducks and landed on my rock that I`d just been sitting on, while I was only 
20 foot away! I shot 1 1/2 rolls of film on this guy from several places 
and watched his moves. After showing me it was now his rock he leapt to the 
edge of the ice with more boos and hisses from the waterfowl and stared in 
the water intend on fishing even while he was surrounded by 25+ ducks and 
geese. I felt like the heron actually enjoyed being booed and hissed at as 
it paid no attention to any of it!

Was at the gardens again today only to find the Great Blue Heron on top his 
usual perch the wood duck house. Then headed out to photograph and watch a 
pair of Selasphorus hummers in Chapel Hill. Took 10 photos of the hummer(s) 
in nearly 3 hours of waiting, perhaps because insects were flying. Also 
watched 3 Green Anoles  moving around at my feet and picked one up and wore 
it on my shoulder (sorry you missed that Shelley, Will and Julia)

BTW the female Common Goldeneye is a real pickle to watch her hiss and 
chase the mergansers around. She dives and swims underwater after them and 
they get out of her way. Looking at her swim underwater it appears like she 
swims upside down because her legs look like they are above her. I know 
these aren`t wild ducks, but they are pretty fun to watch especially since 
only about 20% of the pond isn`t frozen.

Randy L Emmitt
Rougemont, NC
Nature Photographer focusing on birds, butterflies, dragonflies and 
wildflowers.
http://www.rlephoto.com