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Author Topic: Just how big a fish can a Heron swallow?  (Read 4552 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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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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"The hate of men will pass and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people!" ...Charlie Chaplin, from his film The Great Dictator.

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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"The hate of men will pass and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people!" ...Charlie Chaplin, from his film The Great Dictator.

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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"The hate of men will pass and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people!" ...Charlie Chaplin, from his film The Great Dictator.

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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"The hate of men will pass and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people!" ...Charlie Chaplin, from his film The Great Dictator.

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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