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Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7004565
09/30/20 09:43 AM
09/30/20 09:43 AM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
J
J.Morse Offline
trapper
J.Morse  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
Yep, Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). My mother always called them a Shitepoke too. *hit-stringer was a common nickname here as well. As Warrior stated, Florida does, indeed, have a white version called, aptly, a Great White Heron. They are most common around Florida Bay in the Everglades. When I was a younger fellow they were considered a separate specie, now those bird nerds say they are simply a color morph of a regular Great Blue.

About 15 years ago the All Purpose Boy and I were bowfishing one of the canals off Houghton Lake, not far from home. We saw a Great Blue Heron struggling along shore a short ways ahead of us. As we got up to the poor beast we found it was fighting to escape from a good sized snapping turtle. The turtle had it square by the Taint. My boy reached in a grabbed the turtle by the tail, and when he lifted it from the water it was left with a mouth full of taint feathers and the heron crawled weakly off into the bushes. That bird wouldn't have survived had we not come along. I sorta felt sorry for the turtle as well.


Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7004569
09/30/20 09:52 AM
09/30/20 09:52 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,664
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,664
Minnesota
We used to kill all the perch we caught and throw them out of the boat while panfishing...the Blue herons would eat them all.


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7004571
09/30/20 09:53 AM
09/30/20 09:53 AM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,726
SW Georgia
W
Wanna Be Offline
trapper
Wanna Be  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,726
SW Georgia
That’s just one of a catfish farmers worst nightmares.

Re: What is this bird? [Re: Wanna Be] #7004589
09/30/20 10:18 AM
09/30/20 10:18 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,932
SEPA
L
Lugnut Offline
trapper
Lugnut  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,932
SEPA
Originally Posted by Wanna Be
That’s just one of a catfish farmers worst nightmares.



Any pond owner too. I've had trouble with them for many years. Folks might be surprised how big of a fish they can eat.


Eh...wot?

Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7004596
09/30/20 10:32 AM
09/30/20 10:32 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,594
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
T
Trapper7 Offline
trapper
Trapper7  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,594
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
My cousin used to call them "Slough Pumpers". It's definitely a Blue Heron.


I don't care how nice the hand soap smells, you should never walk out of the restroom sniffing your fingers.
Re: What is this bird? [Re: Trapper7] #7004718
09/30/20 12:35 PM
09/30/20 12:35 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 325
Iowa
TrapperDR Offline
trapper
TrapperDR  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 325
Iowa
They aren't worth eating. They taste slightly better than hawk but lack the juicyness/flavor of horned owl.

Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7004733
09/30/20 12:59 PM
09/30/20 12:59 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,726
SW Georgia
W
Wanna Be Offline
trapper
Wanna Be  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,726
SW Georgia
Taste about the same as a merganser. Don’t care for either!!

Re: What is this bird? [Re: Lugnut] #7004780
09/30/20 02:24 PM
09/30/20 02:24 PM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,791
IA
T
teepee2 Offline
trapper
teepee2  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,791
IA
Originally Posted by Lugnut
Originally Posted by Wanna Be
That’s just one of a catfish farmers worst nightmares.



Any pond owner too. I've had trouble with them for many years. Folks might be surprised how big of a fish they can eat.

I seen one eat a soft-shell turtle one time it, looked like a dinner plate going down that long skinny neck. laugh

Last edited by teepee2; 09/30/20 02:25 PM.
Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7004795
09/30/20 02:51 PM
09/30/20 02:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,932
SEPA
L
Lugnut Offline
trapper
Lugnut  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,932
SEPA
They about cleaned out the panfish and crappie bass in my smaller pond. They eat the frogs too. I send the dogs after them when I see them.


Eh...wot?

Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7004824
09/30/20 03:44 PM
09/30/20 03:44 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,059
Ky
J
jbyrd63 Offline
trapper
jbyrd63  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,059
Ky
we call them George birds

Re: What is this bird? [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7004861
09/30/20 04:40 PM
09/30/20 04:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,517
Nebraska
Trapset Offline
trapper
Trapset  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,517
Nebraska
Originally Posted by Paul Dobbins
You have to be really careful releasing them from a beaver snare. That beak is wicked.


#1ls as well. Who’d a thought that would hold one of those. I almost lost an eye. Turns out there’s a difference between cowering, and coiling! Lmao

Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7004935
09/30/20 06:47 PM
09/30/20 06:47 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 683
SD
T
Tray Offline
"Wilson Jr."
Tray  Offline
"Wilson Jr."
T

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 683
SD
This is one I photographed in Florida with a American eel. They can be very hard on the baby duck populations.

311F33AC-1C0A-40C6-A2F3-62CA84167F60.jpeg
Re: What is this bird? [Re: Trapset] #7004946
09/30/20 07:00 PM
09/30/20 07:00 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,366
New York border
Cragar Offline
trapper
Cragar  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,366
New York border
Originally Posted by Trapset
Originally Posted by Paul Dobbins
You have to be really careful releasing them from a beaver snare. That beak is wicked.


#1ls as well. Who’d a thought that would hold one of those. I almost lost an eye. Turns out there’s a difference between cowering, and coiling! Lmao

Be aware , yes the beak is a good weapon but the aim is what gets you. They instinctively go for your eyes. To blind you or at least mess up your vision is a very effective strategy.
I had to remove one GBH coiled up in fishing line 5ft above the water as I was assisting a game officer. First thing I grabbed was it's upper neck to control it. Safety glasses or a face shield would be a good thing to wear getting near one like I did.


NRA benefactor member
Re: What is this bird? [Re: cohunt] #7005005
09/30/20 07:55 PM
09/30/20 07:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by cohunt
Never heard anyone ever call a heron a shite poke. That is a common name for the least bittern or slough pump.

Lol most of Maine does.


Nevada bound
Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7005127
09/30/20 10:13 PM
09/30/20 10:13 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 570
mn
T
trapperman222 Offline
trapper
trapperman222  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 570
mn
They taste like a cross between an eagle and a snowy egret . Nothing like chicken.

Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7005159
09/30/20 10:53 PM
09/30/20 10:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
Actor Offline
trapper
Actor  Offline
trapper

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
Great Blue Heron ... in Ohio we always called the Bittern a Shite Poke...

Garry-


“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Have been trapping 77 years…
Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7005226
10/01/20 05:44 AM
10/01/20 05:44 AM
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,575
NH
T
trapNH Offline
trapper
trapNH  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,575
NH
Like the boss said.

Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7005295
10/01/20 07:31 AM
10/01/20 07:31 AM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,501
Wi.
D
Diggerman Offline
trapper
Diggerman  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,501
Wi.
Neighbor told me they were protected, I beg to differ.

Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7005349
10/01/20 08:32 AM
10/01/20 08:32 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,458
Wheaton Ks
L
lee steinmeyer Offline
trapper
lee steinmeyer  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,458
Wheaton Ks
Also called a gooney bird in this neck of the prarie! Was trapping coon on the river with a friend, He had a set that he couldn't keep them out of. Three in three days, his nickname after that was "birdman"!


YOU CAN IGNORE REALITY, BUT YOU CANNOT IGNORE THE CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING REALITY.

http://www.lptraplinesupply.com
Re: What is this bird? [Re: Gary Benson] #7005476
10/01/20 11:57 AM
10/01/20 11:57 AM
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,661
Iowa
C
CTRAPS Offline
trapper
CTRAPS  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,661
Iowa
My Grandpa used to call them "Cream S...ers" because he said when they took off, they would drop a quart of cream.

We used to use a Heron decoy when duck hunting in the marsh. It was used as a confidence decoy as a heron is usually one of the first things to take off when they see something they don't like. If they are still around, other birds seem to think everything is ok.


Life Member: ITA, IBA & NRA. Member of SA, FTA & NTA
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