During winter, I travel to Charleston Lake in Charleston, Arkansas, to photograph Bald Eagles. While I am there, I always keep an eye out for a fishing Great Blue Heron that hunts near the earthen dam. I do not know if it is the same bird I have photographed over the years, but I like to think it might be.
This Great Blue Heron has shown some interesting fishing behavior in the past. One year, I photographed it standing on a floating platform near the dam and catching fish by jumping headfirst into the water (Great Blue Heron Unique Fishing Method). Another year, I captured images of it flying with a shad and even swimming in deeper water near the dam (Flying Great Blue Heron With Shad and Great Blue Heron Swimming With A Shad). Those encounters made this bird one I always hope to see when I visit.
Today’s photo shows the heron catching a small fish while standing along the dam bank. Nothing flashy this time. Just the classic, patient hunting style Great Blue Herons are known for.
Wildlife Notes: Fishing Great Blue Heron Behavior
The Great Blue Heron is a skilled ambush hunter. It relies on slow movements, patience, and precise strikes to catch fish. Most of the time, it stands motionless in shallow water, watching for movement before thrusting its bill forward with surprising speed.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s species account on the Great Blue Heron, these birds eat a wide variety of prey, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, and even small mammals. Their flexible diet is one reason they thrive in many wetland habitats across North America.
Although Great Blue Herons are capable of dramatic hunting methods, most successful strikes are simple and efficient, like the one shown in this photo.
Great Blue Heron Lifespan and Survival
The lifespan of Great Blue Herons varies depending on habitat quality, food availability, disease, and predation. On average, they live around 15 years in the wild.
Their first year is the most dangerous. About 70 percent of hatchlings do not survive to their first birthday. Once a heron makes it past that early stage, its chances of reaching adulthood improve significantly.
The oldest recorded Great Blue Heron in the wild lived to be 24.5 years old. That kind of longevity is rare but shows what is possible under ideal conditions.
Photography Notes
I photographed this fishing Great Blue Heron while it stood against the dam bank at Charleston Lake. The background was clean, and the bird’s posture showed the moment just after it secured a small fish.
Even simple hunting scenes are worth photographing. They tell a more honest story of how these birds spend most of their time.
Image Information:
- Date: 12/12/23
- Time: 08:57 AM
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- ISO: 2000
- Aperture: 8
- Shutter: 1/3200
- Exp. Comp.: -0.3
- Lens (mm): 500
- Program Mode: Manual