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Author Topic: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?  (Read 5798 times)

RalphH

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Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« on: March 12, 2022, 08:26:31 AM »
Came across this blog post from Paul Cipywynk with the Byrne Creek Stream keepers in Burnaby. This past fall I watched a GB Heron take a similar sized fish out of a small stream in Surrey. I wasn't sure what species (likely coho).












source: http://cipywnyk.com/blog/2020/10/14/great-blue-heron-catches-large-fish-on-byrne-creek/?fbclid=IwAR3KtR_b9a5NnyQEABMPJt4IlmvuIPhtej65tuXFgcYzwJyfuvXRqfq2Q_U
« Last Edit: March 12, 2022, 08:28:53 AM by RalphH »
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dennisK

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2022, 10:52:22 AM »
I don't know to be disgusted or amazed.
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RalphH

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2022, 01:45:12 PM »
it's ok to be both! Open your horizons! Embrace your feelings!
« Last Edit: March 12, 2022, 05:23:24 PM by RalphH »
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" ...no one predicted Mr. Trump would behave quite so insanely as he has in fact behaved – as always, Mr. Trump exceeds all expectations of how much he would exceed expectations of how much worse he would perform than expected. "
Andrew Coyne, Globe and Mail Feb 13, 2025

Roderick

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2022, 02:04:04 PM »
Respect the herons.  They know more about fishing then any of us ever will. 
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Dave

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2022, 02:05:44 PM »
Lets hope Tom Sewid doesn't see this, lol! ;)
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Darko

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2022, 02:13:12 PM »
awesome post, that stream has had some tough times due to spills but the volunteer effort is amazing. swallowing a coho is rather impressive haha. I live nearby and actually go to the school named after the creek. Awesome stuff.
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iblly

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2022, 03:48:06 PM »
I once saw a heron try and grab a guys sockeye he had just beached near Hope so they are ambitious birds.
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RalphH

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2022, 05:21:33 PM »
Quote from: Dave on March 12, 2022, 02:05:44 PM
Lets hope Tom Sewid doesn't see this, lol! ;)

you know those heron spey hackles sell for a couple $ each! Another chance for an FN industry?

just kiddin' folks!
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" ...no one predicted Mr. Trump would behave quite so insanely as he has in fact behaved – as always, Mr. Trump exceeds all expectations of how much he would exceed expectations of how much worse he would perform than expected. "
Andrew Coyne, Globe and Mail Feb 13, 2025

RalphH

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2022, 05:22:30 PM »
Quote from: Darko on March 12, 2022, 02:13:12 PM
awesome post, that stream has had some tough times due to spills but the volunteer effort is amazing. swallowing a coho is rather impressive haha. I live nearby and actually go to the school named after the creek. Awesome stuff.

I'm within a couple of blocks of the school.
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" ...no one predicted Mr. Trump would behave quite so insanely as he has in fact behaved – as always, Mr. Trump exceeds all expectations of how much he would exceed expectations of how much worse he would perform than expected. "
Andrew Coyne, Globe and Mail Feb 13, 2025

Darko

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2022, 05:56:00 PM »
Quote from: RalphH on March 12, 2022, 05:22:30 PM
I'm within a couple of blocks of the school.
maybe the car I see with the BC Kokanee Fishing sticker on the back is your then  ;)
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Fish Assassin

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2022, 08:55:21 PM »
Once I saw a heron with a coho. Had trouble swallowing the fish. Saw the heron gagging as he tried to swallow. I could clearly see the fish flopping in the gullet. Thought the heron was going to choke to death but after about 10 minutes he managed to swallow it.
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Rodney

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2022, 09:07:23 PM »
Not really Byrne Creek or heron related, but I took these a couple of days ago.





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RalphH

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #12 on: March 12, 2022, 09:56:28 PM »
Quote from: Darko on March 12, 2022, 05:56:00 PM
maybe the car I see with the BC Kokanee Fishing sticker on the back is your then  ;)

Nope. No stickers on my vehicles. Someone within a block has a spey/swing sticker on his car.

I saw a heron take a large coarse fish in the Fraser once & for a while  it couldn't get it's head out of the water and I wondered if it would drown... might have had it's head stuck in the mud.
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" ...no one predicted Mr. Trump would behave quite so insanely as he has in fact behaved – as always, Mr. Trump exceeds all expectations of how much he would exceed expectations of how much worse he would perform than expected. "
Andrew Coyne, Globe and Mail Feb 13, 2025

RalphH

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #13 on: March 12, 2022, 09:57:37 PM »
Quote from: Rodney on March 12, 2022, 09:07:23 PM
Not really Byrne Creek or heron related, but I took these a couple of days ago.







better tell Tom we also have too many eagles!
 ;D
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" ...no one predicted Mr. Trump would behave quite so insanely as he has in fact behaved – as always, Mr. Trump exceeds all expectations of how much he would exceed expectations of how much worse he would perform than expected. "
Andrew Coyne, Globe and Mail Feb 13, 2025

Arkatek

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Re: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2022, 03:36:45 PM »
Amazing shots all round, the birds seem to be having more success than me most of the time  ;D
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