Wicked Cool Bird Story.

shilala · 03-17-2011, 09:21 AM

While Lisa and I were in the Dominican on our love-fest, we spent a good bit of time watching a bird from our terrace. It liked to fish in the pond out back that was slap loaded with little fish.
Whenever we walked by the pond, those fish would clamor to see who was coming and whether or not they'd get a handout.
One afternoon before dinner, I asked Lisa to go down and feed the fish with me. We took some club crackers from the minibar and sat on the edge of the water mushing them up and tossing pieces in.
Surprisingly, as soon as the fish got riled up, this goofy bird came and sat right beneath us, about two feet away.

We figured he was just trying to get in on the cracker action, but what he was doing was picking up the pieces of cracker, then setting them on top of the water waiting for a fish to get it so he could eat the fish.
We weren't sure that's what was going on at first, but when the half dozen turtles would get too overbearing, he'd pick up his crumb, move away, and sit it on the water again. If it started floating away, he'd pick it up and move it closer to himself. If it went mushy and sank, I'd throw him some more and he'd get a new one.
We watched intently, and it took only a couple minutes for him to nab a fish. When he did, he walked up on the bank, then spun it around so he could swallow it correctly. Apparently he knew if he dropped it back in the water, dinner was over.

Even after watching all this, we weren't really sure that what we were seeing was what we thought we saw, and we ran out of crackers (or so we thought, turned out I was sitting on some more). No matter, this bird was still hungry, so he grabbed a snail shell and continued placing it on the water, grabbing it and moving it when the turtles were screwing up his fishing, and ultimately caught himself dinner again. Lisa even managed to catch the whole business on video on her iphone. It was quite a thing to behold.

Today I went and found out what this critter was, it's a Green Heron. Why they call it green is a mystery to me when it's black and red, but whatever. Also, it has a long neck. The pics at Wiki are very deceiving. It keeps it's neck scrunched up, so it's hard to tell.
That Wiki article I linked says "Sometimes they drop food, insects, or other small objects on the water's surface to attract fish, making them one of the few known tool-using species", which made me realize we witnessed something really special, something we'll probably never see again in our lives, and something few people have probably ever witnessed. That's why I wanted to tell you guys about it.

replicant_argent · 03-17-2011, 09:52 AM

Those birds are more intelligent than some people I have observed lately. Thanks for the neat nugget of info this morning, Scott.

aich75013 · 03-17-2011, 10:03 AM

Cool story.
There is one pic at the bottom of wiki (in the gallery) showing the neck streched out. It's hard to image that's the same bird.

68TriShield · 03-17-2011, 11:07 AM

LOL that bird is living large

OLS · 03-17-2011, 11:17 AM

I had a fish in college, it was a bream that I caught one day that was SO COLORFUL. I discovered through
observation that a fishes coloration increases dramatically when it is about to feed and after it feeds.
I had a chunk of tubifex worms I was going to feed it as I always did, and I got a phone call, put the tubifex
chunk on some masking tape I had matrixed across the top to discourage doofus "leaping out ideas" on the fishes
behalf. And then I hear this splash. The food chunk was gone and the fish was munching away and all colored up.
After I hung up the phone, (cause they used to hang on walls in my day) I put another chunk on the tape,
and watched amazed as it jumped out of the water and tapped that tape with it's nose and then ate the
ball of food that fell in the water. From that day on, he was the dormitory sensation til he just got too big for
that 29 gallon tank. But I gave him to another aquarist that promised to continue taking good care of it in his
55 until it had to go back to nature, or MIT, whichever it decided upon.

kelmac07 · 03-17-2011, 11:42 AM

On your honeymoon and you're watching birds catch fish with the woman you love. Ain't life grand brother?

shilala · 03-17-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68TriShield

LOL that bird is living large

Dave, this is where the poor little bastard lived. The whole incident went down right at the little tree on the right of the pond. (This was the view from our terrace, it's how I got introduced to the bird. I watched him every morning while I was having coffee.)

shilala · 03-17-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelmac07

On your honeymoon and you're watching birds catch fish with the woman you love. Ain't life grand brother?

You bet your sweet ass, my brother!!!

srduggins · 03-17-2011, 12:42 PM

Great story, I like watching those birds, but have never seen them do anything like that.

ucla695 · 03-17-2011, 12:56 PM

What a great experience! I love watching stuff like that!

icehog3 · 03-17-2011, 01:32 PM

Danged bird has a better life than me!

OLS · 03-17-2011, 03:02 PM

I know you wish you had time to go moving your crackers around from place to place.

shilala · 03-17-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLS

I know you wish you had time to go moving your crackers around from place to place.

I've been out in the front yard trying to catch a bird with crackers, no luck so far. I might have to watch the video.

shark · 03-17-2011, 06:16 PM

I've watched blue herons sitting by the side of a river and catching fish, as well as kingfishers swooping over a small lake to catch them.

forgop · 03-17-2011, 06:21 PM

Found a cool video on youtube of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKDr-icvryw

G G · 03-17-2011, 06:27 PM

Very cool Scott.

Eleven · 03-17-2011, 06:29 PM

That's good stuff. You'll be talking about this when you're both old and gray!

Bunker · 03-17-2011, 07:25 PM

A few years ago I took my daughter fishing early one Sunday and we ran into a string of small pumpin-seed sunfish.

She started catching them on just about every cast (I was the offical hook baiter, fish remover).

After about fish number three a large white crane (I think) flew over and stood just off to the side of us on the rocks.

I threw fish number four back and it watched closely and took a few steps closer (the bird was almost taller than my daughter).

Fish number five hit the water and was instantly scooped up, he missed number six but managed to eat number seven and eight before finally flying back to the tree he had been perched in.

RevSmoke · 03-17-2011, 10:10 PM

Great story, thanks for sharing.

TBone · 03-17-2011, 10:55 PM

Scott the lesson here is don't get sucked in with crackers...or you'll get eaten

03-17-2011, 09:21 AM	#1
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Wicked Cool Bird Story. While Lisa and I were in the Dominican on our love-fest, we spent a good bit of time watching a bird from our terrace. It liked to fish in the pond out back that was slap loaded with little fish. Whenever we walked by the pond, those fish would clamor to see who was coming and whether or not they'd get a handout. One afternoon before dinner, I asked Lisa to go down and feed the fish with me. We took some club crackers from the minibar and sat on the edge of the water mushing them up and tossing pieces in. Surprisingly, as soon as the fish got riled up, this goofy bird came and sat right beneath us, about two feet away. We figured he was just trying to get in on the cracker action, but what he was doing was picking up the pieces of cracker, then setting them on top of the water waiting for a fish to get it so he could eat the fish. We weren't sure that's what was going on at first, but when the half dozen turtles would get too overbearing, he'd pick up his crumb, move away, and sit it on the water again. If it started floating away, he'd pick it up and move it closer to himself. If it went mushy and sank, I'd throw him some more and he'd get a new one. We watched intently, and it took only a couple minutes for him to nab a fish. When he did, he walked up on the bank, then spun it around so he could swallow it correctly. Apparently he knew if he dropped it back in the water, dinner was over. Even after watching all this, we weren't really sure that what we were seeing was what we thought we saw, and we ran out of crackers (or so we thought, turned out I was sitting on some more). No matter, this bird was still hungry, so he grabbed a snail shell and continued placing it on the water, grabbing it and moving it when the turtles were screwing up his fishing, and ultimately caught himself dinner again. Lisa even managed to catch the whole business on video on her iphone. It was quite a thing to behold. Today I went and found out what this critter was, it's a Green Heron. Why they call it green is a mystery to me when it's black and red, but whatever. Also, it has a long neck. The pics at Wiki are very deceiving. It keeps it's neck scrunched up, so it's hard to tell. That Wiki article I linked says "Sometimes they drop food, insects, or other small objects on the water's surface to attract fish, making them one of the few known tool-using species", which made me realize we witnessed something really special, something we'll probably never see again in our lives, and something few people have probably ever witnessed. That's why I wanted to tell you guys about it. __________________

03-17-2011, 09:52 AM	#2
replicant_argent Gravy Boat Winnah. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Pete Location: my attorney has advised against giving this information to insane people Posts: 5,326 Trading: (22)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. Those birds are more intelligent than some people I have observed lately. Thanks for the neat nugget of info this morning, Scott. __________________ www.stogietorch.com Some days call for a stiff Pomade.

03-17-2011, 10:03 AM	#3
aich75013 Feeling at Home Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Adrian Location: Allen, TX Posts: 774 Trading: (25)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. Cool story. There is one pic at the bottom of wiki (in the gallery) showing the neck streched out. It's hard to image that's the same bird.

03-17-2011, 11:07 AM	#4
68TriShield Got Torque? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Maryland Posts: 7,194 Trading: (40)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. LOL that bird is living large

03-17-2011, 11:17 AM	#5
OLS Suck It Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Brad Location: TN Posts: 7,912 Trading: (19)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. I had a fish in college, it was a bream that I caught one day that was SO COLORFUL. I discovered through observation that a fishes coloration increases dramatically when it is about to feed and after it feeds. I had a chunk of tubifex worms I was going to feed it as I always did, and I got a phone call, put the tubifex chunk on some masking tape I had matrixed across the top to discourage doofus "leaping out ideas" on the fishes behalf. And then I hear this splash. The food chunk was gone and the fish was munching away and all colored up. After I hung up the phone, (cause they used to hang on walls in my day) I put another chunk on the tape, and watched amazed as it jumped out of the water and tapped that tape with it's nose and then ate the ball of food that fell in the water. From that day on, he was the dormitory sensation til he just got too big for that 29 gallon tank. But I gave him to another aquarist that promised to continue taking good care of it in his 55 until it had to go back to nature, or MIT, whichever it decided upon.

03-17-2011, 11:42 AM	#6
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. On your honeymoon and you're watching birds catch fish with the woman you love. Ain't life grand brother? __________________ Dom in the MLB thread "I could probably get you to wear a Yankee hat for a Maduro!"

03-17-2011, 12:42 PM	#9
srduggins Feeling at Home Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: steve Location: So. Cal. No More Posts: 504 Trading: (37)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. Great story, I like watching those birds, but have never seen them do anything like that. __________________ ". . . but it's good, I guess, that you have the entire asylum to query, but you'll never get a straight answer out of any of us." - OLS

03-17-2011, 12:56 PM	#10
ucla695 Neither here, nor there Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Pool Posts: 3,696 Trading: (5)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. What a great experience! I love watching stuff like that!

03-17-2011, 01:32 PM	#11
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,440 Trading: (60)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. Danged bird has a better life than me! __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

03-17-2011, 03:02 PM	#12
OLS Suck It Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Brad Location: TN Posts: 7,912 Trading: (19)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. I know you wish you had time to go moving your crackers around from place to place.

03-17-2011, 06:16 PM	#14
shark Cigar Smokin' Patriot Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Ron Location: Michigan Posts: 3,584 Trading: (0)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. I've watched blue herons sitting by the side of a river and catching fish, as well as kingfishers swooping over a small lake to catch them. __________________ Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds

03-17-2011, 06:21 PM	#15
forgop Not a puffer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Duane Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,869 Trading: (40)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. Found a cool video on youtube of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKDr-icvryw

03-17-2011, 06:27 PM	#16
G G BR549 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Taylor, FL. Posts: 12,730 Trading: (10)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. Very cool Scott.

03-17-2011, 06:29 PM	#17
Eleven Solid As The Sun Join Date: Aug 2009 First Name: Scott Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,859 Trading: (23)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. That's good stuff. You'll be talking about this when you're both old and gray! __________________ CA: putting the 'man' in bromance since 2008! --markem.

03-17-2011, 07:25 PM	#18
Bunker New hardware installed. Join Date: Sep 2010 First Name: Rick Location: Moonbatachusetts Posts: 950 Trading: (18)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. A few years ago I took my daughter fishing early one Sunday and we ran into a string of small pumpin-seed sunfish. She started catching them on just about every cast (I was the offical hook baiter, fish remover). After about fish number three a large white crane (I think) flew over and stood just off to the side of us on the rocks. I threw fish number four back and it watched closely and took a few steps closer (the bird was almost taller than my daughter). Fish number five hit the water and was instantly scooped up, he missed number six but managed to eat number seven and eight before finally flying back to the tree he had been perched in. __________________ "Good is good, even if no one is doing it - and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it."

03-17-2011, 10:10 PM	#19
RevSmoke Ain't Never Gonna Leave Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Todd Location: Northcentral woods of Wisconsin Posts: 6,861 Trading: (51)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. Great story, thanks for sharing. __________________ Todd__ "Smoke what you like, and enjoy it!"

03-17-2011, 10:55 PM	#20
TBone Equal opportunity Bomber Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Paul Location: Virginia Posts: 2,508 Trading: (25)	Re: Wicked Cool Bird Story. Scott the lesson here is don't get sucked in with crackers...or you'll get eaten