Herons, like Great Blue, Green, Night, Little, are known for their slow and deliberate hunting and fishing styles. Then there are the Tri-colored Herons.
Tri-colored Herons frenetically ‘dance’ when fishing. Their signature first move is the Canopy. They form a canopy by spreading their wings to create a large shadow on the water’s surface. When a fish seeks refuge from the sun it doesn’t matter which direction it enters the shade. The heron jumps into the air, pivots, and strikes. An accurate and deadly pirouette.
Frightened, the fish in the area head for cover, but to no avail. Leaping ahead, the heron pirouette to get in position for another strike. Then the heron will pause for a minute to gulp down the catch and let the target prey settle down before moving on to set up the next canopy trap.
This ballet will continue until the heron is satiated or the bait fish have escaped the area. At which point, the heron will rest before moving the show to a new feeding spot.
