Having a lot of fun this summer watching a Great Blue Heron that makes daily
trips to the hayfield next to me (in Plain). It is a very successful and
well-fed rodent hunter. I have never seen a heron hunt a dry field before.
Have you? This one comes in daily, spends very little time (maybe 3
minutes!) before it gets its first prey item...a mouse, vole, or pocket
gopher. Down the hatch and instantly looking for more. I have been watching
for a few minutes today and it caught 2 in that time. One was a very large
gopher that put up a fight but was no match for the heron who threw it down
on the ground, stabbed it, then tossed it around with its bill till it was
positioned just right to swallow. The gopher became a huge lump in its neck
as it worked its way down. This heron is a better mouser than anything I
have seen!



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Gail Roberts

Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest

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