**WARNING - The series of images below show a Heron catching and eating something VERY cute. If it makes you cry...I warned you...
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I found this very sad and exhilarating at the same time, sort of like driving past an accident. I mean, I hated to see the baby duck get caught and eaten...but at the same time, this is a series of photos you might just get one chance in a lifetime to capture. It's really odd, that we never seem to feel bad for the fish that gets caught...but when it's a little baby duck...it's really hard to take. I think it's because its cute, and the fish isn't. Plus....bird eating bird somehow seems wrong.
First attempt...a miss....however....2nd attempt....errr....
The workers at this park said that they have even seen squirrels grab baby ducklings and drag them into their holes. I was even more surprised to hear that.
I think we view it as a type of cannibalism, and that's why it feels wrong. Plus there's the cute, cuddly factor. The great circle of life, eat or be eaten. Great series!
As you said, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I would have taken the images and posted them as well. Great Blue Herons will eat just about anything that they can swallow whole. I have seen squirrels on 'their' diet. I was also surprised to hear that squirrels were predatory. I had a Mourning Dove nest in one of my window frames recently so I did some research on them. It was mentioned there that the baby doves were vulnerable to squirrels. Sounds strange...
There is a Heron that frequents a field by my house to do some mouse hunting. It really blew me away the first time I saw it.
I have to admit that I didn't look at your pictures. I am sure they are great, but when I lived in Virginia we had a duck that nested in front of my house every year, so I have a big heart for ducklings.
As you said, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I would have taken the images and posted them as well. Great Blue Herons will eat just about anything that they can swallow whole. I have seen squirrels on 'their' diet. I was also surprised to hear that squirrels were predatory. I had a Mourning Dove nest in one of my window frames recently so I did some research on them. It was mentioned there that the baby doves were vulnerable to squirrels. Sounds strange...
Funny you should mention that. Last wednesday a grey heron sat over a squirrel hole for about 40 minutes, so I grabbed my tripod and remote shutter cable, and waited over a half hour. He struck twice and missed each time....AND...I got crapped on about 4 times by the 10 egrets nesting above my head. Would have been worth it if he'd caught the dang squirrel...LOL. The only realy direct hit I took was as I was leaving, but dangit if it didn't nail me completely....hat...shirt (front and back), camera, lens...all got absolutely plastered...LOL.
