Jordan Lake. Follow up on the eel versus lamprey photos that I shared with you. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission is leaning somewhat more towards an American eel. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences scientists are more certain that it is an eel. Since none of us had the critter in hand it does leave open some questions but I wanted to share you what we knew at this point. Enjoy this video of the same great blue heron eating its eel taken with new camera!
great blue heron immature
TagDoc Ellen’s Evening Note 10/20/2020
Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: Doc Ellen’s Evening Note 10/20/2020. Just as this fledgling great blue heron is gathering himself to take the mists of dreams with him to his evening roost, may you too gather your dreams and sleep well. Peace and Grace, Doc Ellen
Property Rights …
Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: Great blue herons are very territorial, and are that way from the moment they fledge from the nest. Each bird wants his share on the shoreline … and will fight to maintain control of the area. The fledgling great blue heron tried to land on the shore of the riprap. He was promptly flattened by a subadult great blue heron – about 1 1/2 years-old – who had a stake on that piece of property. The ensuing fight was loud and quite aggressive on both sides. The fledgeling is the one whose head is mostly a mottled brown and the subadult has a lot of white on his face and the beginning of the black striped cap of an adult. Neither bird seemed worse for the fight as the fledgling, for the moment relinquishing thoughts of acquiring the piece of shoreline, headed for the opposite side of the river. It finally got quiet on the riprap.
Jordan Lake: Uh, Oh! Whose Fish is It?
Mom osprey was set to grab the fish and bolt for her nest. The fledgling great blue heron, being very inexperienced, tried to get the fish too. A mature great blue heron would not have made the attempt. Mom osprey would not have challenged an adult great blue heron. The fish won the face-off. This time.
Jordan Lake, Haw River: That is MY Spot…
The great blue herons are sorting out where the best fishing spots are within the riprap. The heron on the left is a juvenile, hatched last year. The heron on the far right is an adult and I think it is a female. The middle heron, who’s priority is evident while he eats and ignores the sparring of the other two, is a mature male great blue heron. The juvenile is using his crown feathers in a raised display, hoping to get the smaller heron to back off. It didn’t work. Right as I got to the end of the sequence, a 4th (unseen great blue heron) dove into the middle of the other three and they all scattered.
Doc is Angry and Heart-Sick
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE FISHING LINE BEHIND, PLEASE.
Doc is Heart-Sick and Angry about 3 young birds at Jordan Lake. All 3 are in trouble because someone couldn’t take the time to put broken line in the trash. A few steps to save a bird is all I am asking. Please remove trash of all kinds and help the birds and fish and people have a clean environment.
Today we found 3 different birds in trouble at Jordan Lake – ALL three due to carelessly left behind fishing line.
1) This young cormorant has line wrapped through it’s bill and then wrapped around its neck. You can see the swelling behind the line on the throat. This bird probably won’t make it because the line will restrict his ability to swallow a fish.
2-4) This is an immature great blue heron – one of this year’s babies. There is a cluster of fishing hooks snagged in its neck. There is fishing line trailing from the hooks, down around its body and trailing behind it. This bird might make it if the wound in the neck doesn’t get infected.
5) I don’t have a photo yet of the 3rd bird – it is one of this year’s fledgling ospreys. It has fishing line wrapped all around one foot and the foot is swollen. The osprey can still fly so we have no way to catch it. The Rangers are closely watching the youngster. If it becomes immobilized they will do their best to get to it to help.
doc ellen's journey 