Green Herons Battle

Dropping sharply from the air, an adult Green Heron attacks a juvenile. The juvenile showed mild concern toward the approaching adult, until it suddenly turned to panic.

The attack seemed unprovoked from my point of reference standing on the edge of this slowly draining water hole. Both birds had appeared to be tending to Green Heron business on opposite sides of the pond in mutual harmony.

A platform overlooks this area known as Sweetwater Wetlands. The pond is being drained for a controlled burn to remove excessive vegetation. Still, it seems large enough for all to coexist peacefully. A Great Egret and a Snowy Egret showed no animosity towards each other and foraged peacefully.

Unfortunately, somehow, something provoked the adult into attacking the juvenile.

It's likely the Green Heron's actions raised the pond inhabitants' anxiety level a few notches with their displays of aggression and posturing.

The adult on the left was upset at the juvenile on the right, possibly for the younger's mere presence at the pond.

That's only my observation, but Green Heron the Younger seems to be receiving a little foot action to deliver that message.

He retreats only to land across the pond at the exact spot where the adult left to initiate his attack.

Now the adult Green Heron gets to claim this lovely new section of mudflats.

I wonder how he feels about that?

Allan

Credits: Sibley's Guide to Birds

Great Egret/Great Blue Heron

With all the grace and balance of a ballerina, a beautiful Great Egret visits Villa Grove Park in Mequon, WI. The green mudflats of the Milwaukee River provide a soft landing pad and plenty of food opportunities.

Egrets are large wading birds with long legs and a wide foot print. They thrive on aquatic animals...mainly fish.

Their method of hunting is to remain still and wait for prey to come to them.

Their survival is a success story for the bird conservation movement. Great Egrets were hunted to near extinction a hundred years ago for feather adornments on ladies' hats. They recovered beautifully after federal protection for the birds was enacted in the early twentieth century.

Great Egrets are beautiful by nature, but it takes some work to keep up appearances.

Much time is spent on cleaning and straightening, as you might expect for a white bird living in a muddy environment.

A close relative to the Great Egret is the Great Blue Heron...they're both herons. At home in the water as well as the trees Great Blue Herons share the same dagger-like bill used to stab or grasp prey.

Proudly displaying the last of this season's breeding plumage, a Great Blue Heron shares this bend in the river with the Great Egret.

With a seven foot wingspan, the Great Blue Heron is the larger of the two birds.

With stealth and patience they get their prey by a slow and steady advance and a final strike.

Time passes quickly in the presence of these beautiful birds. You do not control the time they allow you.  Enjoy the time they grant you.

Allan
Credits: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds