Wildlife Photo Essay: Territorial Dispute: Grey Heron vs Osprey

Territorial disputes between Grey Herons and Osprey don't last very long. This series of photos was taken November 25, 2010. along the West Coast of Okinawa, Japan, It started at 3:50PM and was over 3:51PM. That's under two minutes by my calculations.

The Grey Heron arrives and looks for a spot to do some fishing along the shore at half tide.

He stakes his claim, landing in the shallows at 3:50PM but, detects something following him into the area.

He spots an Osprey wanting to fish in the same spot. That's just unacceptable. I was here first.

Hey, up there! This is my territory. I got here before you and you're not invited. All the fish here are mine !

Ospreys are not allowed here. This place is OFF LIMITS. Scram, go fish somewhere else. I mean it !

Dang, he was fast. Where'd that sucker go?  Well, I guess that takes care of him !

What the..... ?  He's coming back again!  Maybe I didn't make myself clear.

Osprey, I said beat it. Don't make me have to get physical. I'm wearing a black belt. Know what I mean?

Time: 3:51PM  Osprey says "Dude, chill.  I'm outa here".

Osprey: "Like what's up with these Grey Herons. Whole ocean's full of fish but, they want to claim  part of it all for themselves. Stupid birds are starting to act more like humans everyday. What's up with that"?

The whole world could learn from watching wildlife settle territorial disputes. Don't you think?

Wildlife Photo Essay: Egret, Tiger Fish and theTwo Minute Breakfast

Here are a dozen photos with short captions to demonstrate how a Pacific Reef Egret catches a Tiger Fish and prepares it for breakfast. The entire process lasted two minutes.

Red Beach Okinawa, Japan NOV 11, 2010 8:35AM the bird lands and takes a look around. He's hungry.

He spots a meal heading his way as the tide comes in and gets down in the bird-stealth mode.

At precisely the right moment he reaches out and grabs the little guy.  It's a Tiger Fish.



Next, he turns around and wades back towards the shore.

This way, if he drops the fish, it'll be a lot harder for the critter to swim away.



Now, these Egrets don't have any teeth to chew with so, they have to figure out a way to get the fish in the right position to make them slide down the hatch without choking themselves.

The Tiger Fish sorta figures out what's going on and decides he won't cooperate with the bird trying to eat him.

The Egret gets an idea. Just put the Tiger Fish down and keep an eye on him. They're a lot easier to swallow when they aren't throwing a tantrum.



When it looks like he's had enough quiet-time the bird grabs the Tiger Fish again. It's Round #2.

The Egret gets a good grip on the Tiger Fish this time and has clamped him into a position where he can.....



.... throw his head back, open the hatch wide....



.....and, with one big gulp  (8:37AM) the Egret, Tiger Fish and the Two Minute Breakfast story is over !