Years ago while in a duck blind we had a Great Blue Heron decoy
that we would set off to the side of the decoy spread as a "confidence
decoy". This type of decoy is used to make a more realistic setting and
with the thought that ducks would feel safer as herons usually flush when
a person is in the vicinity. My son and I watched as a real heron flew in
and landed about 100' away and eyed the decoy before it proceeded to
strut down the mudflat bobbing its head up and down and spreading its
wings. The Great Blue Heron strode up to the decoy and did some more
spread-wing displaying which got no response from the decoy which seemed
to infuriate the bird. It leaped into the air and came down on the decoy
flapping and pecking until the decoy fell over into the mud. The heron
seemed quite satisfied with the results and after fluffing its feathers
and doing a little preening it walked back down the beach and out of
sight.

Wilson Cady
N45 35.618' W122 13.738'
Washougal, Skamania County, WA
mail to: gorgebirds at juno.com