{"id":13050,"date":"2012-06-07T03:05:53","date_gmt":"2012-06-07T10:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thefreequark.com\/?p=13050"},"modified":"2022-03-06T05:03:12","modified_gmt":"2022-03-06T05:03:12","slug":"dear-catfish-the-heron-is-not-your-friend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ingridtaylar.com\/?p=13050","title":{"rendered":"Dear Catfish … the Heron is Not Your Friend"},"content":{"rendered":"

[fusion_builder_container type=”flex” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”true” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_sizes_top=”” border_sizes_bottom=”” border_sizes_left=”” border_sizes_right=”” first=”true”][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hue=”” saturation=”” lightness=”” alpha=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” font_size=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_transform=”none” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]<\/p>\n

This is the largest prey yet that I’ve seen a Great Blue Heron<\/a> (Ardea herodias<\/i>) catch and eat in one bite. The heron was hunting around Union Bay Natural Area<\/a> in Seattle when it suddenly flew off, its breast skimming the water because of the drag from a large fish.<\/p>\n

The heron landed out of sight, shrouded by distant marsh grasses. When it finally lurked into a clearing, I took a close look through my lens, and I saw the prey was a catfish, a species I wasn’t sure inhabited the waters around Lake Washington.<\/p>\n

As much as I witness predator\/prey interaction and have a firm grasp on this reality, I confess I’m never without empathy and emotional pangs for the prey. I understand the plight of both parties, and have seen the heartbreaking effects of starvation on predators as well. It’s a harsh reality to which I’m never fully reconciled.<\/p>\n

The catfish in this case, was already dead when I took these shots. The heron then grabbed the fish whole, head first, and swallowed it in a matter of seconds. After the first gulp, the catfish shape protruded from the back of the heron’s neck, and with the second gulp, it virtually disappeared into that power-machine that is a Great Blue Heron digestive tract.<\/p>\n

I’ve read accounts of Great Blues swallowing prey like a large bass — bass that clearly exceed the measurements of the heron’s bill and gullet. This catfish exceeded what I thought a heron could ingest whole. I’m interested to know what you’ve seen in terms of herons taking large fish. I usually see them trying for smaller fry.<\/p>\n

** Glenn Nevill of Raptor Gallery posted a link in the comments, to a detailed series of shots of a heron also capturing a catfish<\/a> — at Wood Lake Nature Center in Minneapolis. **<\/p>\n

All photos shot with the Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Lumix 100-300mm lens, ISO1250, 1\/800, f8.<\/em><\/p>\n

Wading in Deep<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Great<\/p>\n

\"Great<\/p>\n

Seconds later …<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Great<\/p>\n

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