American Bittern: NARRATED

Bitterns barf up their calls! PLEASE CLICK 'LIKE' IF YOU APPRECIATE THE MOVIE. Filmed at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary near St. Louis, MO. Thanks to the following for permission to use their footage: Bill McMullen, Motion Photoz By Liza, and mmolmts.

[@user-cy9mt2uk1m]

7am. I live in Huron, Ohio. For the past few days, I've had 2 American Bitterns resting on my back deck. They are so awesome. I also have several pictures!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Oh, you lucky sonufagun! Do you get to watch them moving around, maybe looking for prey?

[@aerynventress7702]

Bassoon with a limp is my new favorite way of describing this sound.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Yes, it's a great metaphor, and I wish I had thought of it myself (but it's borrowed).

[@jaedenlyons]

I’ve been seeing and hearing an American Bittern near my pond by my house, I even watched as it moved along the shallow weedy and thick areas as it hunted and sometimes called.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Hearing him is so totally cool! Enjoy!

[@assanatuolaniyan8087]

I luv birds!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Me too.

[@evsbichon]

Just a gorgeous film - I love how you captured that stealthiness behavior. Very Special bird and film. Ev

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I almost hated to publish this film, Ev, because I was having so much fun tinkering with it, being persnickety about every little detail. And according to you--thank you!--the care I took with it shows.

[@Nerding4Nature]

I've been lucky enough to hear one, but have never seen one, despite my efforts. I love the footage of it calling.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I was lucky to find someone who was willing to share his footage of the bird calling. Watching him'll make your eyes pop. He looks like he's trying to throw up. I've seen the Bitterns several times, but I've still never heard one. Sora Rails? Oh yeah, all the time. But not Bitterns.

[@justinutube]

And I just ran one over... never saw it alive. Just came out to my car in the morning and it was underneath, dead :(

[@WorldScott]

Bravo Jo Alwood! Quite informative and entertaining video. Seeing how the bird blended in so well with the reeds makes one think about the arms race between predators and prey and how evolution is driving it all! Cheers!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Nice analogy, Scott--the arms race of camouflage evolution. I could have used that in the script. I'm pleased to hear the "bravo". Thank you.

[@bigkahuna5477]

I saw one today! It was magical.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Yes. That' a good way to describe seeing one. You might also like to check out the movie I did about Sunbitterns.

[@pierredefecto977]

Had a clutch of these last year, in a tree(!) in the yard. The "nest" was a small jumble of sticks & twigs about 20 ft up. Has that behavior ever been observed with these birds?

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I wish I could answer your question, Pierre, but I know nothing about that--except that I'm jealous you had the Bitterns nesting in your yard.

[@TrueToad]

Nice Video! Maybe next year for my first American Bittern.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I wish you luck. The herons all fascinate me. Have you seen this one about a bird that I called the "unheron"? ruclips.net/video/ep_VkDmhHlc/видео.html

[@jimseifried8416]

Thanks Jo, for the education . I always learning from you. Nobody does it better !

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks, Jimmi. Now you know, among other things, what's wrong with people's knees.

[@WanderingSoleTV]

INCREDIBLE footage Jo!!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks. I'd have to say this is one of my favorites. I was excited to finally get good Bittern footage--I'm sure you know the feeling--and pleased that three other videographers let me use their clips. Until this last year, I never asked other people for their footage, but I find that quite a few folks are willing to share, and that measurably improves the final product.

[@billmcmullen406]

Terrific footage and very informative! Excellent work, Jo!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm pleased that you liked it, Bill. Your footage of the Bittern barfing up his call was the best part of the movie, to my mind, but I tried to surround it with lots of other worthwhile observations.

[@deannafrautschi7695]

Excellent video and story!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I appreciate the praise, Deanna. I loved making a movie about this cool character!

[@dwainhuckabee623]

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[@dwainhuckabee623]

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[@mrnolmts]

Very educational! Nicely done!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thank you! And by the way, don't you just love that shot of him swallowing a fish at the end? 😉

[@Friskee62]

Very cool indeed. Happy Mother's Day...

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks, Thomas. I loved making a movie about this character.

[@LisaSaffell]

Great video Jo!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks, Lisa. I almost hated to post this movie because it meant I would get to play with it anymore. I could watch that Bittern barf up his mating call another 20 times.

[@mr.piggly5884]

Looks like green heron

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Yes, not only are they both herons, but they both have striped necks.