The Fishing Styles of the Great Blue Heron in Bitterroot

Last week, we showed a sequence of osprey fishing in the Bitterroot Valley. This week, a more relaxed approach to catching dinner from one of the largest birds we see around here - the Great Blue Heron. We start with the patient watchin' and wadin' step of the successful fishing trip in a pond at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. When a fish is spotted within striking range ....

heron splash — Goin' for the grab. (Mike Daniels, Townsquare Media)

... and a dinner is snapped up.

heron and fish — Heron pulling a fish out of the water. (Mike Daniels, Townsquare Media)

The heron moves on to another area of the pond.

heron on watertop — Low level flying or high level running. (Mike Daniels, Townsquare Media)

But along the way, another fish is spotted ...

heron lands — Heron landing in water. (Mike Daniels, Townsquare Media)

... and is caught.

heron with fish in beak — The heron with another fish. (Mike Daniels, Townsquare Media)

We don't think this particular Great Blue Heron has a Montana fishing license, but I don't think a game warden would try to catch one for an arrest. With those wings, the birds do have a pretty fast take-off for an escape.

heron wings on water — Heron spreads its wings. (Mike Daniels, Townsquare Media)

By the way, these photos are from Mike Daniels, who has many more great images at his Facebook page. Check it out. And, if you want to see Great Blue Herons and all sorts of other birds, stop by the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, northeast of Stevensville. You can even just sit in your car alongside the ponds and watch nature happen in front of you.

Categories: Missoula News