"GAME OF THRONES"

Great Blue Heron & Double-Crested Cormorant - 10 Photos

A Great Blue Heron had entered the pond and immediately walked up to a small peninsula where there was already a young Common Merganser roosting & grooming.

A short time passed and a Double-Crested Cormorant flew in and landed near the dry land.

When Cormorants dry their wings outstretched in the sun & with their hooked bills, they appear to resemble dragons. Birds have been said not just to be descendants of dinosaurs but are actually dinosaurs due to their ancestry and what better example, than a tall long legged bird with a sharp beak. Or perhaps, it's a case of the battle between a giant and a dwarf. Hence, "Game of Thrones". 

The heron walked up to check out this intruder, I think expecting to intimidate the arrival (Photo #1). Size alone, particularly with those legs, you would think would be enough to send the Cormorant off.

But no, the Cormorant not only stood his/her ground but aggressively challenged the Great Blue and sent it flying off to the other side of the peninsula (Photo #2 through Photo #7). The poor little Merganser by this time thought, "I'm out of here" and swam off.

A few minutes passed. The heron probably had a think about it and returned to challenge again and this time with success (Photo #8 through Photo #10). The Cormorant most likely thought staying was more hassle than it was worth and with other ponds with ample fish, it was time to leave for quieter surroundings.

Adult Great Blue Herons are extremely territorial and will chase off intruders. And if flight isn't taken, there can be physical challenges. The immature herons with less life experience view all challenges with trepidation. Aggressive behaviour from the Cormorant would be viewed as a potential danger but given a little time, was re-evaluated.

However, some years ago I did witness a young Great Blue Heron entering a pond where a muskrat family was living in a beaver lodge. He/she flew to the opposite side but then a large muskrat surfaced, swam over and got up on land in front of the heron. Herons do eat muskrats so I thought this was foolish. But then with the muskrat standing on hind legs & hissing, the heron quickly backed up and flew off. I assume the aggressive nature of the adult muskrat was because of vulnerable youngsters at home. But honestly, Great Blue, what's the muskrat going to do, "bite your toes"?  Probably just another learning life experience for a young bird. Perhaps, this heron had never encountered a muskrat & couldn't evaluate the danger.

School for young wildlife is life experiences and those that are successful in navigating through their first year, will most likely survive to pass on their genes.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

PHOTO #10