Great Blue Heron

Hummingbirds come in Charms. Geese come in flocks. Herons, when they do decide to come in a group, are correctly termed a "Siege of Herons". It comes from their patience, waiting silent and motionless in the shallows. (one supposes, that following that logic, we would have an "impatience of teens" when the kids gather...)

All the same, herons are wondrous birds. It never fails to amaze me that they can get airborne, and stay there. Yet these big birds nest in treetops, and spend a lot of time in the air. We had a pair all summer hanging out in the bay at Bondi. They like to nest in colonies, and will migrate in small groups, but during the summer season we usually only see them alone or in a pair, fishing their way along our shallow beaches. This is the great blue heron, the largest of our herons.

There are two 'approved' hunting methods: one is to stand motionless, neck extended at an angle of about 45 degrees to the water’s surface, moving only the head and eyes. After a few minutes, the heron gradually moves a short distance away and takes up a similar position. When dinner arrives, the heron slowly folds its neck back and moves one leg in the direction of the prey. Suddenly, its entire body unbends, its head plunges into the water like a javelin, it catches the prey in its bill, and it swallows it outside the water. Fish must be lined up correctly to be swallowed, so sometimes the heron will 'drop' the fish several times, snapping at it, until it is properly aligned.

The second hunting method is the "promenade" -- the heron slowly wades around in about 15 to 25 cm of water until it drives a fish out from a hiding place. The heron then stops and slowly stretches its neck. When the prey is within range, the bird uncoils its body and thrusts its head into the water in pursuit. When it has eaten the catch, the heron resumes its walk.

Ed and Cathy, paddling stealthily along the shore in the morning with their canoe, sent me this fabulous photograph. Nature always gives you a gift when you get up early and get out there... being this close to one of the 'siegemasters' is a great gift.

Being as handy as Ed is with a camera doesn't hurt either!