An avian version of David and Goliath. With a similar result because the little guy came out on top.
Many folks think Great Blue Herons are exclusively fish eaters but they’ll eat just about anything they can kill and swallow, including insects, crustaceans, amphibians, mammals and birds. Chicks of other species of birds can be easy prey so they’re definitely on the menu.
Yesterday morning at Bear River MBR the parents of this Black-necked Stilt chick knew that, so with several herons in the area they and other stilts were being very protective of their offspring. By this time of year many of the stilt youngsters are fully grown, can fly, and look a lot like the adults, but yesterday I was still seeing some very young ones like this little guy.
I watched as this Great Blue Heron landed on the matted phrags but I was more interested in photographing the agitated adult stilts in flight. So I’d been tracking the adult male stilt at upper left with my lens when he suddenly veered and flew directly at the heron. When the heron unexpectedly appeared in the frame I figured there’d be some kind of confrontation so I laid on my shutter button to see what kind of action I might capture.
This photo and the following four are sequential without any skips. In this first shot in the series the stilt is sharp and the heron is soft. My active focus point stuck like glue to the stilt so as the stilt got closer to the heron the larger bird became progressively sharper.
At first the heron didn’t react in the least to the incoming threat.
But that was about to change as the pissed-off stilt with a needle-like bill and flailing long legs got closer.
At this point the heron must have realized that it was smack dab in the crosshairs of an angry bird with the potential to be more than just annoying.
This is the first shot I got where both birds were sharp so wouldn’t you know it, we can’t see the heron’s eye.
At the very last moment the heron juked by ducking and snaking his head forward. The stilt tried to react by tagging the heron with his feet but I believe he missed. Not by much though.
Immediately after this shot I completely lost focus on both birds but I could still tell from my blurry photos that the stilt circled around and came after the heron again.
The heron had had enough so it took off, with the highly agitated stilt in hot pursuit. After the heron was gone I could tell that it took the stilt a while to settle down because he continued to call excitedly for about 15 seconds or so.
In this last shot it’s obvious why I lost and couldn’t reacquire focus on the birds. My active focus point grabbed onto the vertical reeds in the foreground and wouldn’t let go.
There are some things even the R5 can’t do, at least with me at the controls.
Ron
Note: Image techs for most of these photos were at or near 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc.
Heron’s gotta eat, but I’m this case I’m rooting for the stilt family and their adorable, fuzzy chick.
IN this case. Sigh.
I run into this focus problem more often than I like. When it is impossible to focus because of interference in front of the subject or some other reason, I release the focus button and use the manual focus. My left hand is always on the 600mm manual focus ring. It does take practice and a quick reaction.
Charles, I think a little tinkering with the “Cases” in the menu would improve things but then it might reduce the camera’s AF effectiveness in other situations.
Amazing what a smaller bird will do against a larger bird. See it often here particularly when there are nestlings/fledglings – the adults just don’t care how big the other bird is they’ll take it on grounding even eagles and hawks at times! Great captures even if not perfect.
Camera’s “logic” regarding focus sure isn’t the same as ours at times….. 😉
“Camera’s “logic” regarding focus sure isn’t the same as ours at times”
So true, Judy. But the R5’s “logic” is vastly improved over any other camera I’ve ever owned.
Wow. What a sight to see and capture. My sentimental self is also very glad that on this occasion David won.
Thanks, EC. It’s hard not to root for the underdog, or in this case the much smaller bird.
The size difference is astonishing!
The whole sequence is a compelling story, but the sub-story of #6019 and its close-up crop is too wonderful! I’m seeing everything from a Dr. Seuss creature to the craziest Haute Couture headdress in these two. And the heron does seem to be wondering if it really wants this job.
The baby is too precious – so much potential. And so many threats to achieving it.
Carolyn, I see what you mean about a Dr. Seuss Charactter. I used the second version of #6019 as the preview photo when I posted a link to this post on Facebook. Several folks thought the heron had the stilt in its bill.
Great sequence!
Thanks, Quentin.
Great action! I’ve no photos but I have seen similar action from stilts against Great Egrets, Ibis and other stilts. I would not want to be on the receiving end of that bill or those legs. Beautiful birds but fearless in defending young and territory.
Thanks, Dan. Fearless indeed.
Ron,
Fascinating. And a biblical reference!
Stephen
“And a biblical reference”
Stephen, it went against my grain so it gave me pause but at the moment it seemed to be the thing to do.
I could sense your pain… 🙂
Based on your comment I figured you could… 🙂
Sensational series, thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
Exciting series with that brave Stilt parent making sure the Heron would leave the area of its chick. Have never seen that behavior. Have often seen Great Egrets and Herons kind of poke at each other to remind the other to give them space, but never saw another wading bird try to chase them. We can always count on you to further our bird education via your posts. That little Stilt is sure cute.
“That little Stilt is sure cute”
I agree, Everett. I think they’re among the handsomest and most distinctive of the birds I photograph.
Wow– you captured some real drama– I never would have imagined
that a stilt would “take on” a heron…..I guess parental protectiveness
has no real limits– they’ll do whatever it takes, right up to the final
sacrifice if needed. Thanks for this post !
“I guess parental protectiveness has no real limits.”
That’s pretty much it, Kris. They talk about “mama bears” when it comes to protecting the kids but papas can be pretty protective too.
What a great sequence! A couple of weeks ago I witnessed a Black-necked Stilt giving the same treatment to another Stilt that had gotten too close to its chick; prior to that, I hadn’t realized just how assertive/feisty/aggressive the adults could be. We have quite a few youngsters yet, and I’ve seen a few that look to be barely out of the egg, but I just don’t have the equipment for such fine photos as you provide. I did finally realize that all of the youngsters aren’t as short as they appear. They’re sitting on their “knees”!
Thanks, Shoreacres. There aren’t many birds in the marsh that are more excitable during nesting season than stilts and avocets. Which provides great fun for the photographer.