Great Blue Heron Missed the memo about not playing with your food

PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
edited November 30, 2012 in Wildlife
1) When Edmund and I drove by this pond near sunset, I should have known something was up, because this GBH, which was closer to the road than usual, didn't take flight. When I looked through my 500mm lens, I could see it was having fish for dinner, and the fish was long past dead. :eat

2012-1113_Great_Blue_Heron-4A-L.jpg

2) For several minutes the bird played with the dead fish, dropping it first into one mud puddle in the swamp until it was coated with mud, and then tossing it around for a while . . .

2012-1113_Great_Blue_Heron-27C-L.jpg

3) And then dropping it into a second muddy pit to again until it was coated:

2012-1113_Great_Blue_Heron-14B-L.jpg

4) I took lots of photos from the only angle I could get, waiting for "the flip," but it just wasn't going to happen. The bird finally slurped the fish, fully coated with mud. I don't know if this is normal for a GBH, or if this one was just obsessive compulsive, but watching it eat was no kind of appetizing! :scratch

2012-1113_Great_Blue_Heron-30B-L.jpg

Comments

  • ashruggedashrugged Registered Users Posts: 345 Major grins
    edited November 22, 2012
    YUM,
    Nice bright eyes on your shots.. Have a Happy Thanksgiving Pan.
    Robert

    http://rckimaging.smugmug.com/
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited November 22, 2012
    Thanks, Robert! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! Best, Pam
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited November 22, 2012
    Closer IS better! :D

    Happy Thanksgiving, Pam.
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,009 Major grins
    edited November 22, 2012
    That looks like a catfish and if it is they [all birds] eat only after a for sure death if not it will be the LAST meal
    Happy Thanksgiving, Pam
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited November 22, 2012
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    Closer IS better! :D

    Happy Thanksgiving, Pam.

    You are right, Ric!! And Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, too!!!!! Best, Pam
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited November 22, 2012
    jwear wrote: »
    That looks like a catfish and if it is they [all birds] eat only after a for sure death if not it will be the LAST meal
    Happy Thanksgiving, Pam

    Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Jeff! I thought it was a catfish too, and your explanation makes perfect sense! Thanks for telling me. This bird drowned and smothered the fish 15 times to be 100% sure! Best, Pam
  • DsrtVWDsrtVW Registered Users Posts: 1,991 Major grins
    edited November 22, 2012
    Happy Thanksgiving Pam, great behavior shots maybe the mud was also for a little added grit to help digestion.
    Chris K. NANPA Member
    http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 27, 2012
    Excellent behavioral captures Pam. This is normal behavior for a GBH. They do this to daze their catch and to break any spines so that it will be easier to swallow http://www.chilliwackblueheron.com/wildlife/herons-feeding.html.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited November 29, 2012
    Harryb wrote: »
    Excellent behavioral captures Pam. This is normal behavior for a GBH. They do this to daze their catch and to break any spines so that it will be easier to swallow http://www.chilliwackblueheron.com/wildlife/herons-feeding.html.

    Thanks, Harry! I knew you would know the answer. All I can say is, the GBH decidedly accomplished those two goals! Best, Pam
  • peargrinpeargrin Registered Users Posts: 191 Major grins
    edited November 30, 2012
    Clearly, the GBH is a gourmet chef properly seasoning his meal! All those tasty minerals...yum! What a great series, Pam! I've never seen this behavior before. Thanks for sharing it!

    Best wishes to you,
    Pear
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