Endangered Bittern Kingfisher Red-winged blackbird attack

Video shows a few minute segment in the life of an endangered American Bittern (or possibly a green heron). First shown is bittern perching over a pond. It is attacked by a red-winged blackbird and leaves. Two chirps can be heard. It then lands by another pond.

Immediately afterward, a kingfisher dives near the same spot. Its dive from a tree to the pond is photographed. It interacts with another bird before it lands. (I just missed good photos of both the bittern and the kingfisher in flight-unable to take out camera, focus, and wait for it to turn on.) The kingfisher is sometimes called a fisher, because it swoops over water to catch fish and often perches in trees near water bodies.

The American Bittern, also called the Shikepoke (Botaurus lentiginosus), is an endangered species in Ohio. They are difficult to see and find. Although they are hunters, they can be attacked as shown. They often are found stalking animals along shorelines as shown in a previous video, Endangered American Bittern Wild Iridescent Blue, Blue Heron:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wmhAOw11Xg

The American bittern is endangered because it is dependant on specialized marshes. These wetlands have declined. It is an uncommon to rare migrant species. It is large up to 35 inches tall with a 50-inch wingspan.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Endangered
• Bittern
• Kingfisher
• Red-winged
• blackbird
• attack
• swoop
• hunt
• fly
• call

[pudd750]

exploring the Alabaster Mi area i heard its unearthly call from some tall grass - i listened for maybe a half an hour, no idea what i was listening to , sounded like and underground stream making a blooping pumping sound-- i now discover weeks later it was on its way to the Mackinac area -its summer place it always starts its call with click click click then ka chunk ka chunk ka chunk -how odd!