Photos of Aerial Feeding by Tricolored Herons

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Aerial feeding by Snowy Egrets has been observed by many people. Among the various forms that have been described are: hovering to retrieve surface food, agitating the water with one or both feet while hovering (hovering-stirring), capturing prey from the water while continuing in direct flight (dipping), and dragging one or both feet in the water while catching prey during direct flight (foot-dragging). I have observed Snowy Egrets engaged in foot-dragging feeding many times and have quite a few photos of the behavior. An example is shown below.

On a recent trip to the eastern coast of central Florida I saw and photographed Tricolored Herons engaged in the foot-dragging feeding behavior. Photos of the behavior are below. This was the first time I had observed Tricolored Herons feeding in this manner.

The bird is dragging the feet and leaving a disturbance of the water that marks the flight/drag path. Presumably, based on the head position, the bird has spotted a potential prey off to the right.

That (my interpretation) initiated a short hop in which the feet leave the water and …..

the bird lands a short distance away (note the distance beween the location of the feet in this photo and the flight/drag path behind the bird.

The bird lifts the wings to positions that create a shadow. Some ornithologists speculate that the shadow area may be perceived by minnows as a place to hide.

The foot-dragging episode ends with the heron striking in an attempt to capture the prey, ….

an attempt that is successful.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit.