Heron catches enormous breakfast

This was an amazing meal

[@tony8074]

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

[@whosonfirst1309]

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

[@venalleader2909]

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]

I agree, the jurassic period is over.

[@keemjohnson8863]

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

[@Salty.Peasants]

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

[@CustomizedUsername]

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

[@jimzenor9148]

Thanks. I like to follow these guys too😊

[@gessikaguerra1351]

This bird is what the grounds keeper in Caddyshack needed

[@StompTheSagittarius]

Heron*

[@oriraykai3610]

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

[@killingjoke535]

Birds make dinosaurs even more terrifying

[@richardschneider9098]

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]

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.

[@bernieudo9072]

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

[@ImmortalSynn]

.....in one bite!

[@stick9648]

Stormy Daniels competition .

[@texasaggie75]

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

[@user-wd4uf2sm5d]

“Hungry Heron Hunts for Hearty Meal”

[@kiteblaster]

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]

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.

[@br4nd0nh347]

Amazing video quality.

[@jimzenor9148]

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

[@russell-di8js]

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

[@russellspeight5175]

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

[@howardmestas7522]

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

[@jbonegw]

Agreed. Chipmunks and moles.

[@k1k2lee]

Yup good job 👏 Blue Heron also is stunning

[@fuferito]

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

[@uncertainzee]

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

[@jimzenor9148]

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

[@ricardocorbie6803]

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!!

[@snappingbear]

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.

[@hamsterdiving7593]

The footage you got was amaaaazing, thanks for sharing. It takes a lot of patience and focus to get that much on film... I'm in NorCal, and I vist McNears Beach several times a week. It's my second home ❤ There are several different species of Herons and Egrets, as well as geese and ducks. A wonderful variety Last Fall, though, I spotted one I'd never seen before. The (young) park rangers weren't even sure what it was. It was standing absolutely still at water's edge, like a statue I looked it up and I'm 99% sure it was a Night Heron. I guess up here they're a pretty rare sight, because as their name suggests, they only appear at dusk...?

[@jimzenor9148]

They do seem to prefer to hunt in low light which makes videoing them a challenge.

[@JuanCruz-hd4ls]

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

[@islandbirdw]

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

[@DeborahThird-og1uo]

Huh. Now Im eyeing my parakeet suspiciously

[@SerenityMae11]

That parakeet could do some damage to you

[@paulmix6846]

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

[@sharpshooter012345]

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

[@WildlifeClips365]

Beautiful looking bird and great capture as always Jim.

[@jimzenor9148]

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

[@asynchronicity]

Such patience and focus❤

[@user-dy1ds9us5w]

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

[@jimzenor9148]

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.

[@toosense]

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.

[@mgmcd1]

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]

Heron is not a bird but is it noisy.

[@thedesertrat]

Gophers are pests. I enjoyed this video

[@justjim9723]

"i feel for the gophers" said no one ever that has had them mess up a nice lawn

[@Alex-Mex]

And that’s one of the reasons how animals help the ecosystem 😅

[@tbasmwmc]

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

[@jimzenor9148]

Great egrets are really good at that.

[@adirondacktrekking1972]

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

[@carlosdelaguerra8302]

A real true Heron (Hero) there

[@zbrnak]

That was very entertaining Jim. i feel for the gophers as well sometimes, i liked that you showed a soft side.

[@rabd3721]

These things really are dinosaurs man.

[@VirusForPrez]

Hey Ron ! Enjoy your meal , ...

[@gutstompenrocker]

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

[@TBrl8]

See my loafers, former gophers!

[@paulflanagan5395]

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 )

[@user-iq2yp1dn1q]

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

[@Bernard91784]

Thanx man Great catch

[@duncanosborne4469]

amazing buddy thankyou for sharing that with us i love wildlife filming

[@jimzenor9148]

You’re welcome and thank you.

[@jasonexplosion154]

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

[@stevegabbert9626]

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.

[@DeesonJame]

That's just brunch.

[@kevinreese8224]

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

[@user-ug9hb4fh8b]

Great video .... bravo ...👍👍👍👍

[@alasdelibertadsaltouruguay3444]

Excelente registro y video de la vida de esa garza. Felicitaciones!

[@jimzenor9148]

Thank you. That is my intention.

[@mrsdoubtfire534]

Huge thing! Well done.

[@Charlie-B-Barkin]

keep up the great content

[@kathyaris9214]

Amazing video!!!!! Good job Mr birdie!!!!!!

[@jimzenor9148]

Thank you!! And I thank the heron for being such a star.

[@A0A4ful]

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

[@farhorizons3901]

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

[@will-i-am-not]

Herons do not have talons

[@originaljamtracks]

Amazing footage!

[@jimzenor9148]

Thanks a lot!

[@rimac2727]

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?

[@TTex11]

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

[@melodicprogressivehousemph6429]

Great capture

[@jrnumex9286]

that first peck jab effed up goph

[@jimzenor9148]

Yeah. That was a good first peck. It seemed more effective than the other gophers I saw this heron catch.

[@melanies.6030]

​@jimzenor9148 What's the number they can eat - one per day? Seems like one is a pretty large meal that would last them a few days.

[@jimzenor9148]

@@melanies.6030if they are small or medium sized, I’m confident it could eat at least four. The really big ones would take longer between meals. I did see it hunting again the next day after the big meal. I think they can eat a lot in times of plenty.

[@melanies.6030]

@@jimzenor9148 Wow, that's impressive! Thanks for sharing your videos, outstanding footage!👍

[@jimzenor9148]

@@melanies.6030thanks. I learned a lot watching these herons. Some of my older videos are of an old Great Blue Heron I called Greta. I learned so much from following that bird around. I also learned a lot from this night heron. I am happy to share what I can.

[@suzystone244]

That one is a BIGGIN❤

[@sparky3006]

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

[@greeneyesfromohio4103]

Dang that beak is sharp!

[@jimzenor9148]

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

[@jcgulla]

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

[@jimzenor9148]

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

[@aroldoalvesmelo7335]

Vídeo incrível. Parabéns.

[@renegadeace1735]

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

[@jimzenor9148]

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.

[@sergiodicamillo2945]

Bellissimo filmato!

[@OG_HellCat]

Great video 👏🏻

[@jimzenor9148]

Thank you!!

[@prasathragaven]

Imagine how a dinosaur would have attacked😮😮

[@kevinreese8224]

Herons hunt gophers? 😮

[@orixzono]

Go-for "Gopher" and you will be a Hero-n

[@p47koji]

Don't you hear National Geographic calling? 😉

[@jimzenor9148]

Thanks. I really really appreciate that. Although it is currently hunting in Area 3, I first saw this bird in 2021 near the wooden walk bridge by the Spring Street entrance.

[@kojikanemoto5144]

@@jimzenor9148 I lived directly west of the LBP range. I loved hearing the rouinds going off. I participated in a car show outside the range... but stepped in some poop. LOL

[@jimzenor9148]

I live real close to there too, near Los Coyotes Diagonal and Conant. El Dorado is luckily the closest park.

[@Ernoburger]

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]

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.

[@cvrart]

That's usually what I do when I go to an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet - I load up my first plate with WAY too much food... and usually regret it an hour later.

[@fitzenheimerschmitz]

I'm not ever inviting this bird over for Thanksgiving!!

[@DPac9]

That’s a lotta meal for that small bird in one sitting! Hope it didn’t die of over stuffing

[@jimzenor9148]

No he was back hunting the next day.

[@DPac9]

@@jimzenor9148 😳 🤯

[@stunter2875]

Amazing video....Ty

[@DiscoMood]

This Heron wants to Gopher more.😊😊😊😊

[@AkoSoCalPinoy]

😂😂😂

[@Brenda-on7hy]

Nice pun

[@plank3000]

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

[@tsundude4320]

3:10 you're next cameraman! 🐦

[@boxsterman77]

superb camera work.

[@jimzenor9148]

Thanks a lot!

[@pedroangeat3449]

Birds are direct descendants from dinosaurs. No wonder.

[@cdp8935]

wow...awesome

[@syauqiachmad]

It knows where to choke.. amazing !

[@RainRain-qh9eg]

She has family to feed

[@aland155]

Brilliant nature photography - thanks for posting.

[@jimzenor9148]

Many thanks!

[@travisparkerplantscience]

Bro’s probably gonna have some indigestion

[@jimzenor9148]

My wife had a hysterical laugh at that comment. Thanks.

[@travisparkerplantscience]

@@jimzenor9148 👍👍

[@davidrees1840]

Terror birds are still among us!

[@DM-rock-n-roller]

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

[@jimzenor9148]

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

[@DM-rock-n-roller]

@jimzenor9148 absolutely right, my friend

[@investined]

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

[@jacquesjtheripper5922]

Reminds of terror birds of the past, must have been similar except 20 feet tall 😳

[@woodb51]

How large must their gizzards be?

[@letuswalkinthelightofthelo5350]

That is one cool bird

[@jimzenor9148]

Yeah I really like this bird. I remember being impressed by the muscles and beefyness in this bird but honestly I avoided filming it because of its missing toes. Still I found myself always seeing it because it was out there hunting gophers. The other night herons were mostly eating bugs around the trash bins. It is ironic to me that the only night heron in the park that I can identify due to its missing toes is the one that I have been successful in videoing it catching gophers. I think it is a heron that really honed its hunting skills.

[@user-nc9hl2iq3g]

Это ещё что. Было время когда птички ели лошадей.

[@U.A.W.-VET]

NICE

[@bellablue2483]

Please tell me im not the only one who thought birds ate worms and seeds??!! 😮

[@joet7136]

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

[@jimzenor9148]

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

[@scheberoff2992]

This video is basically very nice, but a bit zoom out in some situations would be better

[@jimzenor9148]

I agree. This bird kept getting closer to me. I had a road to my back so I couldn’t back up too easily. I don’t mind too much but it makes it hard to frame the scene. Due to low light my camera has trouble focusing on the eye and it does help to get closer for focusing.

[@Kakalacki]

dinosaur in real life

[@tambuhan]

Поймал мышА - ешь не спешА)

[@TROLL_FACE_00]

Nice

[@ErWo75]

Now that’s a big gulp!