Nature Scenes with Lynn Bowen: All's fair in love and lunch

BEACON PHOTO/LYNN BOWEN
Here's the anhinga trying to swallow a large fish at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge.

BEACON PHOTO/LYNN BOWEN
The great blue heron landed on top of the anhinga — on purpose, of course

By Lynn Bowen
BEACON COLUMNIST

posted Feb 9, 2010 - 9:10:16am

Just the facts: The crime scene was Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge. The time was 2:34 p.m. on Dec. 27, 2009. The innocent victim was a male anhinga; the guilty party, a great blue heron. The crime was stealing lunch.

I stood in amazement as I looked into the water and saw a black, sleek, male anhinga catch, then spear, then attempt to eat an armored catfish for his lunch. The anhinga struggled and juggled to get the fish at the correct angle, which is the fish's head pointed toward the anhinga's throat. Finally, the fish was in his mouth, but lo and behold, it was too large to swallow. Understandably, the anhinga didn't want to give up his deluxe meal, so he kept trying. Then the plot thickened.

A great blue heron, with shades of gray, long legs and a long neck, flew to the shore and watched his fellow bird's activities. Within a few seconds, the heron flew and landed right on top of the anhinga and stole that fish!

The victim (the anhinga, that is) was small in comparison to the thief. The feisty anhinga was 35 inches tall and 2 1/2 pounds, while the great blue heron was 46 inches tall and weighed more than 5 pounds.

Was the heron a bully or an opportunist? Both, I guess. However, I'm certain the anhinga found smaller fishes for his lunch that day.

Now, truthfully, I don't think the anhinga could have swallowed that big fish, and he probably would have had to spit it out. But as he swam away, he looked angry at being pounced on and robbed of his special meal.

Well, the crime really wasn't so terrible after all, but it was exciting to watch as instincts, determination and hunger dominated this scenario!

— Bowen lives in DeLand. Send e-mail to abowen27@cfl.rr.com.

— abowen27@cfl.rr.com

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