Bird Weekly Photo Challenge – Birds that eat Fish as their Primary Diet
A White-faced Heron
Silver Gulls like fish…..and chips
Osprey with lunch
White-bellied Sea Eagle on the lookout for lunch
The Great Cormorant has his lunch
A Darter chasing fish
A Pied Cormorant thinking of lunch
Pelican cruising the water looking for fish
Isn’t it interesting that so many species eat fish: birds, bears, humans, cats, other fish… ?
LikeLiked by 4 people
There are even fish eating spiders!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😳😳😳
LikeLiked by 2 people
A fishing spider anchors its hind legs onto a plant or rock and extends its front legs on the surface of the water to sense ripples. While this technique is mostly reserved for catching insects that accidentally fall into the water, it also works for snaring a small fish – if it’s unlucky enough to brush its dorsal fin against the outstretched spider legs.
The spider then bites the fish at the base of the head and kills it using the powerful mix of neurotoxins that is spider venom. The last step is to drag the fishy meal somewhere dry so it can be pumped full of digestive enzymes before devouring.
Spiders usually catch prey that is only about 20 per cent of their own size, and insects have a relatively small tissue mass versus the crunchy parts that spiders can’t eat.
However, in the case of struggling with a fish the risk seems worth it – on average the fish caught were 2.2 times larger than the spiders’ body length.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that’s amazing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I didn’t include a video but I reckon you should watch one of the many that are on the net 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I will have to now…
LikeLiked by 2 people
They are fascinating 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
But please don’t show me photos of spiders eating fish!! Lovely selection of birds here and even though I miss your colourful friends from your garden it’s nice to see the other birds in your area. You really captured some lovely images here.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you 🙂 I don’t have any fish eating spider photos yet but they are very interesting insects. Aren’t you just a bit interested in how they catch fish?
LikeLike
The only animal on this entire planet I am afraid of are birds. Don’t ask me why. Still, I love these pictures of them devouring their prey because I am not among them. LOL.
Not kidding.
I love your photography, I see pictures in every frame.
Anita
LikeLiked by 2 people
Maybe you watched Alfred Hitchcock’s “Birds” which may give you the willies.
Glad you enjoy my photos Anita ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved that film because it clearly stated that birds are psycho killers. Ha.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t know how you do it – right place, right time! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s it Sue 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The look on William’s face is just priceless. Thank you, Brian. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
and the exploring bum under the bush 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, that too! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLike
Sorry Brian, I answered you on your post instead of mine! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s OK it still got here 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love, love, love, Brian. I haven’t been the Preserve for a few weeks and I can’t wait to get back to see what the birds are doing and what progress spring has made. I remember watching “Birds” in high school and thinking it was kind of dumb. But after walking so much in Illinois and here where there are so many birds, it really would be terrifying if they all suddenly decided to attack humans.
janet
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks janet. I think it would be quite scary too 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another great gallery of birds! Interesting image of the Darter! Looked like he or she was coming right at you.
I’d like to have some fish n chips about right now. It has been over a year since I enjoyed a nice piece of maui or halibut. I’d take tilapia or cod at this point. One of the first things I want to go do after I get my vaccine is eat at our favorite seafood restaurant. For not, I get to watch all the birds enjoying their catch. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Lisa 🙂 A bit late but busy etc
I cook great fish and chips, actually I may even have some tonight 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You got it in plenty of time. Thanks for rubbing it in. So do you bear batter?
LikeLiked by 2 people
No way….have you seen the size of bears!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL! nice typo! beer batter! You know a pint! ROFL! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tough life being a fish, he says, having had fish and chips for lunch just a couple of days ago.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Same 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person