Striated heron (Butorides striata) is a very skittish species, perhaps one of the most nervous of all. When I drive up any river these are the birds that first take to the wings to escape. This juvenile was a rare exception, as it was simply sitting there as I passed slowly.
This is an adult which also is behaving much less like the norm for the species. It’s out in the open and should have taken to the wings long ago, but is simply observing as I slowly approach.
Here it’s deciding when to fly, and by hesitating it’s sliding downwards so it’s seemingly hanging on the branch.
Last updated on 8 November 2024
