Fishing Partners at the Viera Wetlands

IraRunyan

While at the Viera Wetlands today I observed an Otter swimming in a pool of water.



Within a couple of minutes, a Great Blue Heron flew over and landed about 4' from the Otter.



The Otter was quickly swimming around the pool of water which would spook fish to just below the water surface, and the Great Blue Heron would capture the fish when they got within range. The GBH would follow the Otter around the pool and repeated the process several times. In a 20 minute period of time, I saw the bird capture 4 fish with the help of the Otter.

Lindiwe

Oh, -wonderful- series! Thanks for sharing it!
I wonder.. did the otter get anything out of this partnership, or was it only the smart heron who ended up well fed?

IraRunyan

I saw the Otter do a lot of swimming around and splashing of water, but did not observe him capturing any type of meal.

jackiejay

these are just as wounderful great group of pictures

photodad1

Nice photos.

IraRunyan

I do believe based upon how the Heron was following the Otter, that it had done this before. Birds can learn from experience..............