Birders
Related: About this forum3Hotdogs
(12,197 posts)I like how they have patches of pink on there wings.
elleng
(130,126 posts)I'm not hiking out there, tho my neighbors may do so.
We're at a major river, this 'tidal' pond is between the river and a creek.
Arne
(1,968 posts)Must have hatched some chicks.
3Hotdogs
(12,197 posts)They become lunch for the Bald Eagles that live nearby.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)And an exceptional shot! Ty for sharing, Ellen!
RainCaster
(10,673 posts)They have hairs on their legs that can sense minute changes in water flow. They can sense fish approaching in muddy water that has no visibility. They also excrete hormones through their skin that attract the fish. These are tremendous fish killers.
While I respect them greatly, I do hate to see them at my pond, because that usually means I have lost more of my koi. I will scare them away with firecrackers, and check my fish for any damage.
elleng
(130,126 posts)it's adjacent to my rented house @ confluence of river and creek; no koi here!
RainCaster
(10,673 posts)When I see them fishing the tides in local estuaries, I can appreciate them. I have many photos of them in their habitat, even a few closeups with a 500mm lense.
However, when they raid the pond we had built for koi...
Fun fact- each winter the pond ices over. The koi are fine, they go into a hibernative state. But the yearling herons will stand on top of the ice all day watching the fish slowly swim underneath. I don't bother them in that situation. Darwin will take care of them.