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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Great Blue Heron diving for fish (1 Viewer)

normwm

Norm
I saw what I think is unusual behavour for a Great Blue Heron in a small pond in Atlanta, GA, USA. It was perched on a branch about 3 meters above the water, when it flew/dove at a 45 degree angle and speared a fish, just like a kingfisher or tern. The water was deep so the bird had to take off immediately, fish in beak.

Then, a few minutes later, a Green Winged Teal --which was bathing nearby -- suddenly, with a huge splash, dove and swam underwater like a diving duck for 3 or 4 meters. Then it popped up with a huge splash and continued bathing! The teal is a very boyant duck, sitting high in the water, and normally just pokes it's head underwater.

Anyway, I'm a new user.
 
Hi again Norm and on behalf of the entire staff here at BirdForum, a warm welcome to you:t:

With all the Great Blue Herons I've observed, I can say that I have never seen any of them dive from above. They always seem to wade in the water looking for their meals. I would have loved to have been there with a camcorder to catch something like this taking place.
 
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