Lately one of my feathered friends here at the Pelican Bay Century 21 Office has ~ shall we say ~ become very "territorial"

Last summer I wrote about him in Lunchtime At The Canals Of Pelican Bay. At that time I thought HE was a SHE. I've gotten a lot closer since then and realized he is a HE by the color of his feathers. 

The Anahinga doesn't know how to share or play well with others. When my friend the Great Blue Heron comes gliding in to have breakfast or lunch, it's a good bet that Anahinga will chase him off. This has been going on for a good week solid now.

It started on January 4th... The Great Blue Heron was waiting for me to come out to feed the fish, I grabbed the company book keeper so she could get a good look at him.

He begins to hunt for food and the Anahinga dives into the water from his perch, swims underwater to where the Heron is staking his lunch.

The Anahinga proceeds to chase the Heron out of the water, but that isn't enough! He comes after me next!

That's right, straight out of the water, straight after me with that extremely sharp, pointy beak of his, hollering the whole time.

Our book keeper couldn't believe how nasty the Anahinga was. I chased him back and he'd turn and come back after me. I had on my riding boots but am pretty sure that his beak could puncture them and wasn't taking the chance on finding out for sure.

Do I have my camera outside with me on this day? Of course not!

Since this incident you know I've been bringing my camera out with me every time I go to feed the fish.

 

This "behavior" has now occured every time my friend glides in for his meal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(He is so graceful on his final approach.)

 

 

 

 

 

Once he's landed he begins to stalk the fish ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until, that sharp beak pops out of the water and chases the Heron away...

 

(I didn't have a good shot of that actually happening, (without a fish involved) however if you look at this shot of him drying his wings in the reflection of the water you can get an idea of just how sharp that beak is.)

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

The herons feathers literally get ruffled as the smaller, meaner bird chases him away!  

I think he looks rather handsome with the ruffled feathers though!

 

 

 

 

 

One day last week, the Anahinga was making darn sure that the Heron was not going to go back to the water..

 

He was so intent on watching the Heron that he didn't care how close I got to him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I walked right up to and around him talking photos, all the while waiting for him to chase me. He didn't care what I was doing. He'd look at me with those strange red eyes then back at the Heron..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then he got tired of me and waddled like a duck with his wings still spread back to the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Heron, thinking he was safe to hunt again went back to the waters edge...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, it wasn't so safe..The Anahinga was ready for him and once again chased him off, this time more feathers got ruffled...

 

 

 

 

So what happens next? 

 

  

 

The Anahinga pops his head up out of the water with his lunch, and walks on to the grass of right in front of the Heron and me as if to say Na Na Na Na Boo Boo

(Told you that beak is sharp)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fish almost got away, the Anahinga fumbled it, but recovered it and swallowed pretty quick.

 

 

(I couldn't make this up if I wanted to!)

 

I have taken lots of photos over the last 10 days of these two. I'm sure other shenanigans go on like this all over Pelican Bay and.. Century 21 Sundance's Susan Southerland has blogged about her listings that she has in this gated community. Stop by her blog and have a look!

You never know what kind of antics you'll get to photograph in your back yard!

Check out Pelican Bay Shenanigans ~ The Video when you get a chance, it's way better then the pictures!

 
This post has been included in Florida Information Volusia County, FL Information Daytona Beach, FL Information
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism
Post is included in group: Sundancers

17 Comments on Pelican Bay Shenanigans

JAN
16
2008
518,881 Points 101 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Beautiful creatures!  Do you take pictures for National Geographic? You'd be wonderful!
3:50pm • #1
230,965 Points 59 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Sis is right, National Geographic should be knocking down your door Lysa.
4:25pm • #2
130,452 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Sally, Thanks! I'd need a better camera and a teacher to teach me how to use it first, most of the photos I took are blurry and I'm sure theres a way to speed up my shutter!

Jason, LOL Thanks!

5:10pm • #3
361,609 Points 28 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Lysa, What amazing shots you got!  I am surprised he would come after you but you're not kidding, that beak is a killer :)  I think these photos are just wonderful, I really loved them!
10:20pm • #4
JAN
17
2008
130,452 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Carole, glad you enjoyed them! This anahinga is very territorial, he's actually fought with another of his species for his tree, of course, no camera when it happened.
10:40am • #5
Nice pictures!  I think you missed you calling.  Where's our buddy Henry?
12:16pm • #6
Wonder pictures, Lysa.  You are an artiste extraordinaire!
1:52pm • #7
173,296 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Lysa...I hope the constant harassment doesn't keep the poor heron from returning! Those are great pictures...
8:58pm • #8
344,447 Points 17 Featured Posts Outside Blog
This is an awesome Localism post. The story and the photos are incredible. Good job!
10:16pm • #9
Great photos!  I'm a little envious... the blue heron that fishes each morning in the pond out back is so skittish that he flies off if I even think about opening the door.
10:31pm • #10
JAN
18
2008
130,452 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Susan, Who knows? I hear we're never too old to learn new tricks :). That is our buddy Henry!

Robert, Thank you!

10:37am • #11
130,452 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Joan, I was concerned about the same thing! This morning they both had breakfast tho. The Anahinga waited until the Heron got his fish before getting his own fish then chasing off the heron. When I left them the Anahinga was shivering on the shore and the Heron was in the water. Go figure!

Lisa, Thanks! I couldn't do it if it weren't for my office location :)

10:39am • #12
130,452 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Don, Thank you! I believe my buddy watched me feeding the fish for awhile then figured out I was harmless. He began approaching me about a year ago, today he actually got closer to me then he ever has before. We have a mutal trust. The anahinga I could probably touch if I wanted to.
10:48am • #13
JAN
20
2008
Lysa -- Beautiful shots, I love seeing pictures of wildlife. Nice shot with his food in  the mouth.
5:42pm • #14
JAN
21
2008
130,452 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Aziz, Thanks so much! I've got more shots of that bird with a fish in it's mouth then some people do of their kids! :)
9:07am • #15
FEB
08
2008
364,879 Points 62 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Lysa that is remarkable. I see both the heron and anhinga but never stopped to watch the war.  I guess I need to pay a little more attention.  I've been missing the show.
5:03am • #16
130,452 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Chris, I don't know how often this type of thing goes on in other places? I've been feeding the fish for about a year here, and the heron has been coming for about 6 months, the anahinga figured it out about 4 months ago and just started the chasing thing about 2 monts back, maybe more. I know a pond where both types hang out, but have not seen this happen there.. so don't know how common it is?
5:38am • #17

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Lysa Napolitano, Call Coordinator ~ Century 21 Sundance

Daytona Beach, FL

More about me…

Century 21 Sundance

Address: Century 21 Sundance Realty, 1102 Pelican Bay Drive, Daytona Beach, FL, 32119

Office Phone: (386) 756-6800

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