The behavior, known as canopy feeding, was perfectly captured in the above video by Paul Wheatley, a Leeds-based nature videographer on a trip to Gambia. Membership benefits include one year of Audubon magazine and the latest on birds and their habitats. There is one more possible explanation for the Black Heron's feeding behavior that no one has mentioned yet: Maybe the birds just really enjoy a good game of “nighttime, daytime.”. The fish will unwittingly swim toward their doom as they seek cover from all the commotion, says Lianne Koczur, a post-doctoral research associate with Texas A&M Transportation Institute who studied Reddish Egrets for her dissertation. Lake Manyara National Park is an ideal spot … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The behavior is rarely seen, and it's one of the more dramatic examples of courtship in the bird world. Most of the time, Black Herons look like your typical wading bird—long legs, long necks, long beaks. Photo: Dick Dickinson/Audubon Photography Awards. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. Kaufman agrees that the different strategies could have evolved over time, and that they might provide several advantages that benefit the birds today. Pumpkin Bird Feeder Makes a Happy Harvest For Birds, To Help Birds This Winter, Go Easy on Fall Yard Work, Learn to Identify Five Owls by Their Calls, Watch: The Male Costa's Hummingbird Puts On One Wild Mating Display, Nom Nom: 22 Astonishing Shots of Birds Getting Their Grub On, Whoa! A California photographer managed to capture the rarely documented behavior in his own backyard. In the same way the glasses reduce glare, the shade provided by the wings could allow the bird to clearly see past the surface. These are some of our favorites. Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news. Your support helps secure a future for birds at risk. “It could also be argued that the lure of both the shade and the bright feet now work in tandem to attract fish into gobbling range,” Evans says. The behavior, called canopy feeding, is an especially effective way to hunt. Other herons like the Reddish Egret have variations on this hunting technique. Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. But while fishing, the bird will tuck its head down, spread its wings around its body, and create a sun shade of sorts. Legal Notices Privacy Policy Contact Us. Then, as time went on, Black Herons started canopy feeding, which proved to be a more efficient hunting method. The Little Egret uses a similar hunting strategy; these all-white wading birds will shuffle their feet as they walk to stir up aquatic prey, sometimes running with outstretched wings before they ambush. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_heron, WTF Fun Fact – Canada Finally Independent In 1982, WTF Fun Fact – Galapagos Tortoise Incredible Metabolism, WTF Fun Fact – Bats Regurgitate Food For Each Other. Not literally, of course. The shade attracts fish and makes them easy prey. “It would be interesting to see an experiment that manipulated foot color and investigated how it affected canopy feeding success.”. Spread the word. Yes, that's its face. National Audubon Society Visit your local Audubon center, join a chapter, or help save birds with your state program. 44 Perfect Gifts for the Bird and Nature Lovers in Your Life, How the Evening Grosbeak Got Its Misleading Name. – WTF Fun Facts, Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_heron. Overwhelmed and Understaffed, Our National Wildlife Refuges Need Help.