Tweeters,

My sister was sailing with a group in South Sound. Early Saturday evening, the group pulled into a cove for dinner. Shortly after, on a nearby pier, two great blue herons began a ferocious fight with each other--grabbing each other's necks with their beaks, loud squawking, etc. One GBH fell into the water, the other chased it down and the fight resumed. The group watched, thinking this would be a fight to the end, it was so violent. Eventually, someone distracted them. When the GBH broke up, the agressor strutted, wings out, beak open, and walked through the group of people. My sister learned later that the same two GBH had had such a fight earlier in the day, as well. I don't know if one bird was adult and one a juv., but can anyone shed light on this behavior? Territorial?

Pat Quyle
paq at rushmore.com