Thanks, I needed that. Nice to see the efforts the herons put into nailing gophers. I'm still trying to figure out if they sometimes stab "blindly" at the ground based on underground sounds or movements of the grass.
Yeah I’m trying to figure out that very thing. It seems to me that they are quite accurate at “estimating” where the head and neck is when they stab their bill into the ground. I suspect a little rain may help a lot if it softens the ground.
@@jimzenor9148 I recall a masters degree that was done at San Francisco State College back in the 60s, about the cues that robins use to locate earthworms in lawns. As I recall, they localize the worm by the sound it makes tunneling just under the surface.
@ maybe it was apparent watching the video, but when I was watching the last gopher heron interaction, the bird seemed to lower its head near the gopher to listen. These birds have really surprised me with their vision, but I’ve become convinced that their hearing is also far superior to mine. The reason I chose to include that last attempt because it was very interesting to me how determined the bird was. It sure seemed to be hearing the gopher. I didn’t see any sign that it hit the gopher and I looked carefully. I thought the gopher was probably moving around underground and the heron was hearing it.
Yeah I agree. I have tried on a couple occasions. I left messages but nobody returned my call. I even tried to do it myself but the bird took off like a rocket. It’s the second bird with fishing line and I know of two birds that have missing toes probably due to it. It distresses me a lot and even lost sleep on it. About all I’m left with is documenting their lives, the good and bad.
Thanks, I needed that. Nice to see the efforts the herons put into nailing gophers. I'm still trying to figure out if they sometimes stab "blindly" at the ground based on underground sounds or movements of the grass.
Yeah I’m trying to figure out that very thing. It seems to me that they are quite accurate at “estimating” where the head and neck is when they stab their bill into the ground. I suspect a little rain may help a lot if it softens the ground.
@@jimzenor9148 I recall a masters degree that was done at San Francisco State College back in the 60s, about the cues that robins use to locate earthworms in lawns. As I recall, they localize the worm by the sound it makes tunneling just under the surface.
@ maybe it was apparent watching the video, but when I was watching the last gopher heron interaction, the bird seemed to lower its head near the gopher to listen. These birds have really surprised me with their vision, but I’ve become convinced that their hearing is also far superior to mine. The reason I chose to include that last attempt because it was very interesting to me how determined the bird was. It sure seemed to be hearing the gopher. I didn’t see any sign that it hit the gopher and I looked carefully. I thought the gopher was probably moving around underground and the heron was hearing it.
The Meadow Lark is a beutiful little Guy
I grew up with meadowlarks in South Dakota but they are pretty rare here in Southern California. It was nice nostalgia.
so cute
You think a bird rescue would come out and get that fishing line off its foot?
Yeah I agree. I have tried on a couple occasions. I left messages but nobody returned my call. I even tried to do it myself but the bird took off like a rocket. It’s the second bird with fishing line and I know of two birds that have missing toes probably due to it. It distresses me a lot and even lost sleep on it. About all I’m left with is documenting their lives, the good and bad.
Yes, he does swallow.....lol.
I’m tired of the gophers having 0 survival instinct
@@b1zzarecont4ct they breed well fortunately.