Black Heron by kgb224
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Description
Austin Roberts Series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Heron
Black Heron
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Black Heron
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes (disputed)
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Egretta
Species: E. ardesiaca
Binomial name
Egretta ardesiaca
(Wagler, 1827)
The Black Heron, Egretta ardesiaca, also known as the Black Egret, is an African heron. It is a medium-sized (42.5–66 cm in height), black-plumaged heron with yellow legs and feet. It is found south of the Sahara Desert, including Madagascar, and prefers shallow open waters, such as the edges of freshwater lakes and ponds. It may also be found in marshes, river edges, rice fields, and seasonally flooded grasslands. In coastal areas, it may be found feeding along tidal rivers and creeks, alkaline lakes, and tidal flats. Its breeding range is between Senegal and Sudan and to the south. It is found mainly on the eastern half of the continent.
The Black Heron has an interesting hunting method called canopy feeding — it uses its wings like an umbrella, and uses the shade it creates to attract fish. This technique was well documented on episode 5 of the BBC's The Life of Birds. Some Black Herons feed solitarily, while others feed in groups of up to 50 individuals, 200 being the highest number reported. The Black Heron feeds by day but especially prefers the time around sunset. It roosts communally at night, and coastal flocks roost at high tide. The primary food of the Black Heron is small fish, but it will also eat aquatic insects and crustaceans.
The nest of the Black Heron is constructed of twigs placed over water in trees, bushes, and reed beds, forming a solid structure. The heron nests at the beginning of the rainy season, in single or mixed-species colonies that may number in the hundreds. The eggs are dark blue and the clutch is two to four eggs.
Comments (23)
Fred255
Strange! Good shot!
durleybeachbum
Fabulous shot!!
MOODYBLUE92954
GREAT SHOT AND THANKS FOR THE INFO I THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE RUN INTO TROUBLE AND LOST HIS HEAD LOL
thevolunteer
Wow, I never knew that. What an unusual way to eat. Great find. Aloha
3x3
lovely shot
PD154
I have seen this on nature programs, forming an umberella to shade away the sun, great shot Christo.
FELIPEART
PERFECT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MrsRatbag
Excellent capture!
glix70
Beautiful capturw and thanks for the info about him. He has beautiful colours, but is he sleaping? Great work!!! Well done!!! :)
kgb224
glix70 No he is not sleeping.This is the method of catching fish which this bird uses.
THROBBE
That's so cool! I thought he was camera shy! ;) Great capture!!!
drace68
Did not know of this hunting style. Thank you for the posting.
Santa29Klaus
Great picture christo!
ledwolorz
Wonderful shot.
karlabu
Great study, yes the hunting style (I'd call it "mantling") is very interesting and you captured it well !!
Meisiekind
Great one Christo... I thought he lost his head before I read your very interesting narrative! :)
furuta
Beautiful and interesting scene. wonderful shot!!
artaddict2
Very interesting read, clever Heron ! Great shot, superb detail to the feathers, well done Christo!
dianas..creations
Excellent shot!!
cfulton
A wonderful capture of this amazing bird. I have not seen one for years. Cheers, Clive
Kyms_Cave
Got something really speacial here...bravo....
kaward
I remember this species from the Life of Birds, he's the cloak & dagger hunter. This is a fantastic capture of his bizarre trick!
Kimberly.3D
Holy cow that is cool!