On Watch...

The Green Heron that normally comes to the pier for handouts has gotten quite tame as of late.  The bird waits for me to start throwing the net and then flies in for its meal.  Soon, I expect to be hand feeding it like I do the Night Heron.  Yesterday evening was much like all the other meal times.  The bird flew to the end of the pier about thirty feet from me and then ran up the boards toward my offerings.  After eating a number of bait-sized mullet, it wandered back down near the marsh.  It was then that I noticed that another Green Heron had flown to the pier.  This one was still a mite skittish and would never come close enough to eat.  Hopefully, it will soon learn that the meal is free and no harm is intended. When Mark and I headed back to the house, I made sure to leave a few mullet for its supper!

Walking up the pier near the marsh, Mark pointed out our friend Heron.  It had flown up from the pier to roost on a broken off stub of a pine tree.  I am sure that it was settled in for the night and planned on waiting there until morning light and another free breakfast.  I took a few pictures of it before I noticed that it was a tad uneasy about its roosting place.  It would turn its head side to side and then peer toward the sky as if looking for some predator.  Every little noise would cause it to pivot around in alarm.

This started me thinking.  I know that Green Herons, like other herons and egrets, can see at night.  During low tides, these birds can be seen feeding along the shorelines and they have no problem snatching up shrimp by moonlight.  The heron could spy any danger even after dark.  So what had the bird so wary?  Had it been frightened by a near attack of some predator in the past?  A bobcat or fox would happily make a meal of the small Green Heron if either happened upon it as it sat at the marsh edge.  Perhaps that is why the bird chose a roosting spot a good twenty feet above ground.  Then I wondered if this was the brightest of all moves..wouldn't sitting high in the sky make the bird a prime target for an owl?  Granted it would have to be a large owl but my Green Heron is a small bird.  The one we feed is a youngster and is only about half of its full-grown size.  At the moment, it is not much larger than a quail...a long legged quail but you get the idea! One of the large owls could easily take this one off for supper.  Still, I would be impressed by any animal or bird that would even attempt to dine upon the Green Heron.  This bird has an unusual method of protecting itself from potential predators.  It does do the "freeze" method to hide from danger..it does the "fly away" method and even the "squawk and scare" method.  These all work relatively well and are generally what a predator expects from a bird but this bird has a secret weapon!  It uses its excrement as a weapon of defense!  Yep..its poop!  The Green Heron will direct its poop right at a potential predator and has such a good aim that it usually hits its target where it counts..right in the eyes!  This temporary blinding effect gives the bird plenty of escape time!  Ewwww!  I am thankful that I am seen as a friend and not an enemy!

After a few more photos, I decided to let my bird roost in peace.  I will go out early in the morning to see if the Green Heron made it through the night and to offer it breakfast.  There is just something about interacting with wildlife that is both exciting and calming.  The birds of the Bayou know that I mean them no harm and their trust brings me great pleasure.  Who needs anything else????