Heron Prima Donna

[Steve Smith]

Sat down on a rock to talk to this heron. After a few minutes it turned and looked me straight in the eye and then started striking dramatic poses. First it paraded from left to right trailing a piece of seaweed from its beak and holding its wings up while looking at me. Then it danced around facing away from me with its wings extended and the feathers raised. Next it adopted the pose shown here and started squawking. When I explained that I had no interest in, nor paid any attention to Hollywood, it stopped prancing about and flew off. It lives in a cedar tree just down the street from our house.

Clearly the heron is a nutball and/or (gulp!) it wanted to take me home, but I would welcome comments on its photograph. Canon 70D, Tamron 150-600 at 150 mm, 1/800, F16.0, ISO 1600, hand held.

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Interesting story and great detail in the shot, Steve! Nice to see such a nice shot coming through the new Tamron lens! Pity the bird was looking away from you but nothing you could do about that! A keeper, for sure!

[Diane Miller]

Great story! Nice color and tonalities and wonderful detail in the wings!! Keep chatting with this guy and you'll have a model on retainer! Do they eat corn or the like? (I once saw a mute swan almost attack a guy who was running out of popcorn.)

A little more room top and bottom would be nice next time, but movements can be difficult to anticipate. If you can persuade him to perform with a cleaner BG that would be a real bonus. Show us more of this guy!

[Edward Arthur]

Very nice shot and excellent control of that Tammy. I like the shadow depth and clarity. I'm a big fan of behavior shots so this works for me. But I'm trying to figure out how you managed this with that aperture/ISO. What was the lighting like?

[Steve Smith]

Hi Ed,

I rechecked the aperture. Your instinct is correct - it was F8.0, not F 16.0. All I can say in my defence of the error is "I'm Canadian". I have found that excuse to work just fine when I have gotten myself into a jam in India or in Italy and a bunch of other places - so I'm thinking it should work here too.

Steve Smith

[Steve Smith]

Hi Diane,

No, herons only eat the fish that they catch themselves - as far as I know. The background and the room around the bird wasn't the best. They change fishing locations as the tide changes and this was her last stop for the day, just before dusk. I have run into three different herons that seemed to listen to a low monotone until you get too close - about 30 feet. Perched hummingbirds will "talk" back from about 6 feet away because they are so aggressively territorial that they just have to point out that you are trespassing.

Having said that, anthropomorphism can be amusing or even lucrative if you are Disney Studios but wild creatures are not humans in feathery or furry disguise. Otters and bears and all wild creatures may look cuddly but one needs to give them plenty of space and serious respect because they can and will fiercely take care of themselves if they are encroached upon.

Steve Smith

[Edward Arthur]

All I can say in my defence of the error is "I'm Canadian". I have found that excuse to work just fine when I have gotten myself into a jam in India or in Italy and a bunch of other places - so I'm thinking it should work here too.

Hmm, maybe I should try that sometime. Who'd know the difference, eh? :)