When I was a youth, we were feeding the ducks at a pond. One of these herons was there. Never having seen one before, we tossed it some bread. The heron picked up the bread and put it in the water. Using the bread as bait, it caught six fish, the sixth being too big for it to swallow. It readjusted the bread between every fish to keep it in just the right spot.

@jimzenor9148

16 күн бұрын

I saw one do that with a big beef rib it took from the garbage. It ran the bone with some meat on it to the water and dropped it in and then waited watching over it. These birds are very clever.

I’m glad these guys aren’t any bigger.

@whosonfirst1309

Ай бұрын

They’d be waiting for you to go out to the car on the way to work.

@venalleader2909

Ай бұрын

there were prehistoric creatures just like that. Look up Quetzalcoatlus. Basically a stork the size of a giraffe that could swallow a grown man whole.

@DeniseHand-eh2rr

Ай бұрын

I agree, the jurassic period is over.

@keemjohnson8863

Ай бұрын

Yeah because if they were and came after us. We’d extinct them.

@Salty.Peasants

Ай бұрын

There used to be Herons bigger than most men. They've been extinct since the Egyptian dynasty.

This bird is what the grounds keeper in Caddyshack needed

@StompTheSagittarius

Ай бұрын

Heron*

@YTBR.

22 күн бұрын

The gophers friend was watching him get eaten as he safely danced in the ground hole to “ I’m alriiight” 🎶

These things really are dinosaurs man.

@kenjialfaro1220

22 күн бұрын

Ufff sooo very dangerous the dinosaurs? Eh...

@Omega-wi6fl

19 күн бұрын

All birds are..

@rabd3721

19 күн бұрын

@@Omega-wi6fl That's what I mean.

@daneg

13 күн бұрын

what sticks out to me in the way the bird eats is how similar it is to reptiles/snakes. like when a pelican swallows a duck in one gulp, it's not so obvious b/c its beak is gigantic. and raptors pick pieces off their prey. but this little guy looked like it had to disengage his jaw to get that gopher(?) into its gullet.

@RB-bd5tz

12 күн бұрын

Um, no … they’re birds.

I didn’t know I’d be this enthralled watching a bird eat but here I am. Instant follow

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

Thanks. I like to follow these guys too😊

Heron in tree: "No, stop filming! You musn't see me like this!"

The first time I saw a heron I was a child. I was out in the woods exploring a stream and stumbled upon a blue heron. It was taller than I was. I didn't even know they existed at the time, so it was a surprise to see such a large bird up close.

Spectacular! National Geo just gets its money shot and goes home. Jim stays the course. Not sure I would want to be a bloated black-crowned night-heron, but I like watching one get there. This species and the yellow-crowned are so interesting in their patient, deliberate ways.

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

I remember a couple years ago I saw one grab a beef rib from the garbage and run it to the water and it dropped it for bait. It then watched it presumably waiting for a crawdad or small fish. I’ve been a fan of them ever since.

Birds make dinosaurs even more terrifying

I’m glad the gopher and the bird became good friends and decided to move in and learn to fly from the inside

Amazing how the head zooms ahead and remains totally immobile waiting for the body to catch up to it.

Just like watching a guy eat a Double Quarter Pounder without anything to drink. 😂

@ImmortalSynn

Ай бұрын

.....in one bite!

@stick9648

Ай бұрын

Stormy Daniels competition .

These Black-Crowned Night Herons are very smart birds. You see videos of them baiting and catching fish. This was some excellent videography. It was very impressive how you stayed with the bird, and kept focus, no matter where it went.

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

Thanks. I saw one once take a rib bone with some meat on it out of the garbage and run it too a nearby pond and drop it in the water. It then waited over it. I assume it was using that as bait for crayfish or fish. I agree that they are surprisingly smart.

“Hungry Heron Hunts for Hearty Meal”

You got to admire the patience of the bird. Rip gopher. It's not easy out there, but in your own way you're helping preserve our wonderful ecosystem by keeping these birds and others fed b

Heron became Russell Crowe in the movie gladiator “are you not entertained”

Amazing video quality.

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

Thanks. It really helps that this bird lets me position myself where I want to go.

I know it’s nature but I still feel bad for the little guy

Props, friend, great footage. Good to see the night-heron get its reward and the pocket gopher get its due!

The way it holds its head still in space while moving its body puts any pop and lock dancer to shame.

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

Great egrets are really good at that.

I need these birds in my back lawn! Awesome footage.

@jbonegw

29 күн бұрын

Agreed. Chipmunks and moles.

Title wasn't kidding!! Thanks for sharing as us in the UK don't see either this species of heron or Gophers.

@russellspeight5175

Ай бұрын

I've seen a grey heron take a Coot in the UK.

to tiny preys like this, dinosaurs still exists

Pelicans watching from afar thinking to themselves: "Hmmm, I should try this on a Capybara!"

That's some serious stomach acid

One thing is for sure.. the heron never complains about hair in it's food.

Great capture and story telling. I learn so much from each video.

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

Thanks. This guy is a real interesting bird. I learned a lot watching it. It helps that it is super easy to video.

A real true Heron (Hero) there

I've see this happen first hand, I still can't process it

Huh. Now Im eyeing my parakeet suspiciously

@SerenityMae11

Ай бұрын

That parakeet could do some damage to you

I call herons cats on stilts, it’s the way they stalk their prey.

@suchomimustenerensis5302

17 күн бұрын

Hah. It even takes its prey into a tree, like a leopard.

Yup good job 👏 Blue Heron also is stunning

I love watching nature it ain't like they could order out

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

Yeah I agree and the stakes are high. If they miss too many chances, they may not survive. I’ve seen this bird for at least 2 years and it is real bulky and strong so I think it takes advantage of its opportunities.

Birds are dinosaurs. Just imagine how smart T rex and other predatory dinosaurs really were. They were likely as smart as ravens and herons and likely could use tactics such as baiting prey.

The patchy grass gives the bird cover from its prey, and the noisy environment prevents his prey from hearing him walk around. Smart bird.

@StompTheSagittarius

Ай бұрын

Heron is not a bird but is it noisy.

Great video 👏🏻

@jimzenor9148

27 күн бұрын

Thank you!!

The way this bird hunts on the ground, it's like watching a big cat hunt its prey. The stealth and the patience, I'm amazed that this is a bird doing all of this. What a vicious predator.

@jimzenor9148

11 күн бұрын

I’ve gained a lot of respect for herons in the last few years.

That's just brunch.

Pretty cool stuff ,yeah a little sad but he dispatched it quickly and efficiently,Kudos Heron

I watch grey herons in a river most Sundays they have some patience standing for hours on end just waiting for a fish to come by .

HE NEVER KNEW WHAT HIT HIM, WOW. BUT DAT BIRD'S MEAT IS TUFF OR MAYBE THE PERSON DAT COOKED DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOIN, IT WAS LIKE CHEWIN A BASEBALL MITT. ( 3 )

People fail to realize that birds can fk things up. There was a time when we humans would be on the menu.

Looks like a Bittern, same family right enough

Me: Dinosaurs are extinct A Rodent: Have you seen this thing? Seriously though, it always impresses me how they can keep their heads entirely motionless whilst the rest of the body moves!

@jimzenor9148

20 күн бұрын

Yeah keeping their head still is a super power.

Red Tail Hawk: Mmm, stuffed heron!

Be glad we missed the herons cousins a couple million years ago

That little white lock hanging down the side of his head....reminds me of Vincent from "Pulp Fiction".

@jimzenor9148

12 күн бұрын

Yeah and the bird has a similar assassin job.

When I see things like this it reminds me that raptors 🦖 evolved into birds 🐦

Отличная сьемка! Блестяще!

@jimzenor9148

9 күн бұрын

Thank you. I had a good bird.

Such patience and focus❤

He is strangling it. I thought he would stab it. First time I have ever seen a bird do that😂

@jimzenor9148

20 күн бұрын

Yeah I agree. I probably have over a hundred videos of herons eating gophers and Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons nearly always use their dagger like bill. This night heron probably just doesn’t have enough weight to pull it off. They are probably a third of the weight of a great blue just throwing out a wild guesstimate.

Thank you for your time and efforts. Great video

@jimzenor9148

22 күн бұрын

My pleasure and thanks.

That Heron is BOSS!

Skip to 2:28 for the action

See my loafers, former gophers!

Wow. Impressive that it could swallow that critter whole like that. Also impressive to get the whole thing on camera considering the bird was flying around. Good job.

can you store it in your glove compartment or keep it in the trunk safely? Summer months???

Amazing catches

It's got the look on it's face like I do when I eat too much. It looked like a robot when it kept it's head perfectly still on all axis.

Dude's gonna get the meat sweats

Beautiful looking bird and great capture as always Jim.

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

Thanks. This bird is really a pleasure to watch. It is full of surprises.

Gopher didn't seem to resist much, like it snapped its neck right away or something.

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

I had the impression that it actually stabbed this gopher. In every other capture I’ve seen with this heron, it grabbed the gopher. I think it has a very sharp bill but I suspect it was trying to grab it but inadvertently speared it. Many times the gopher is feeding on plants from its burrow pulling the plants down by their roots. The herons can break right through this shallow soil and snatch them right out of their burrow. I’ve watched great blue herons do this hundred(s) of times but obviously this bird is much smaller so it is not as easy for it to do that. It was just my impression so I’m not sure. I did edit out some of the gopher struggle so it took about twice as long in real life to subdue that gopher.

OMG!,I know this place well, my dad flew his electric airplanes with his friends there, it's also the last time I seen him alive. My name is Bicycle Bob and I approved this message and I saw egrets doing this there.

@jimzenor9148

9 сағат бұрын

Yeah you are right. It is very close to the model airplanes. Usually it is a Great Blue Heron or a Great Egret I see hunting here but I was quite happy to watch this heron.

I need some of those at my house,, Damn Ground squirrels have holes everywhere!! Occasionally a Hawk makes 💜💜 a fly through and gets a meal!!

dinosaurs still hunt our ancestors...

First a gopher, next a golfer! 🏌️ 😂

@jimzenor9148

17 күн бұрын

I hope he doesn’t kill all the golfers😂

Es ist immer wieder erstaunlich, wie groß die Brocken sind, die ein Vogel als Ganzes verschlucken kann. Man mag sich kaum vorstellen, daß solche Mengen auf einmal durch einen Schnabel passen.

@jimzenor9148

9 күн бұрын

Thanks. Danke schoen. My brother in law showed the video at a large party. The women screamed when the gopher was swallowed. I would have thought they would scream at the capture or choking but no, only at the swallowing.

Thought the Heron would keep the gopher pinned down, with its talons and then rip out the proteins.

@farhorizons3901

Ай бұрын

Water birds such as herons don't have the talons or beaks designed to tear flesh.

@will-i-am-not

Ай бұрын

Herons do not have talons

Fascinating!

impressive photography. I imagine the heron despite being proud of its catch dread now having to swallow it whole.

Gr8 Worꓘ. Wayyy Kool. Thx a Ton for the Post.

Hey Ron ! Enjoy your meal , ...

I think it likes the cover of the longer grass

@jimzenor9148

12 күн бұрын

Yeah it seems to like some long grass but not too much. On the other section of the park, I see them hunting on short grass (hunting bugs) I haven’t seen this particular heron for a month or so but I’ll keep looking.

"Black-crowned Night Heron" Holy shit. Goth much?

that's gonna make for one impressive splat on some unfortunate windshield.

@jimzenor9148

17 күн бұрын

There was a tree near to where I used to live and these guys roosted there. The white washed cars that parked under that tree were basically totaled IMO.

When the heron let go of it, the gopher seemed to already be fatally wounded, but the snatch was so quick, I couldn't see what caused the injury. Did the bird stab it with its beak in the beginning?

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

Yeah I think it did. I think it was probably accidental because this bird usually grabs and chokes but it looked to me in a slowed version that it pierced the neck in a pretty vital spot.

What did it do in the initial strike to incapacitate the gopher? Does it shake the prey in order to break its neck? It looks like it couldn't suffocate it. Nice catch by the way (of the heron's behaviour).

@jimzenor9148

12 күн бұрын

I think in this case this bird inadvertently pierced the gopher in the throat. It’s hard to see and I’m not sure but I did look at it multiple times and slowed way down. That is why I think the gopher was wiggling so much at the beginning. The bird then grabbed it by the neck and squeezed and shook it until it could be eaten.

Dad, what's that coming out the side of the gophers head? His brains. Oh.

Challenge #1: Catch gopher. Challenge #2: Actually swallow gopher.

2:19 Target aquired. Radar LOCKED.

What great hunters!

No kidding eh . Could you imagine a 6’ tall one !

He also goes up in the tree to eat it because if you're on the ground it'll get covered in ants and insects and everything else that will annoy you while you're trying to eat and any other bird or prey item will find you and possibly eat you also! Or at least disturb your dining pleasure!

@jimzenor9148

16 күн бұрын

Yeah. There was a red tailed hawk that frequently landed on some nearby power lines. I have seen the stealing from the larger herons so I am pretty sure it would steal this bird’s food too.

Next on the menu, chihuahuas

Now that’s a big gulp!

Beautiful night heron❤

They will be the next terror birds of the future!

It's not a direct kill, so it just hold the prey around the beak and making movement to let the beak cut and the prey will eventually die through bleeding, did I get it right?

Nature is not cruel nor unkind. Over time, everything is food for something else, somewhere, somehow.

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

Yeah, a gopher has to keep being a gopher and a heron a heron.

@DM-rock-n-roller

Ай бұрын

@jimzenor9148 absolutely right, my friend

I’m glad I don’t have to crap that out😂

Imagine how a dinosaur would have attacked😮😮

Amazing video ! I am wondering what camera and lenses you used?

@jimzenor9148

15 күн бұрын

Thanks. I have a Canon R6. I almost always shoot at maximum 4K with my EF 400 mm DO lens.

@carglimpses

14 күн бұрын

@jimzenor9148 That's why it looks so good you have a really good tool, nice 👍

Birds are direct descendants from dinosaurs. No wonder.

How did it kill the gopher? Did it break it's neck? A fatal punture wound?

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

I think in this case it choked the gopher. The larger herons and egrets will usually stab with their bill.

Dang that beak is sharp!

@jimzenor9148

27 күн бұрын

Yeah it sure is. In some views it looks like a dagger.

Amazing footage

@jimzenor9148

13 күн бұрын

Thanks

I don’t get it. This bird invited the gopher to dinner and even gave him a ride!

Very nice video. It's great to be in the right place at that special moment. What camera did you use?

@jimzenor9148

Ай бұрын

I use a Canon R6 with a Canon EF 400 mm DO lens.

Wow it was watching its legs to see if they tried to grab ahold of the tree! Cool 😎

What amazes me is thise beaks look so weak to us but some how when bites first time the rodent is damaged it cant run away when first dropped