Top 3 Birds that Fish

I am not a bird expert, nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. I do love birds, however. Who doesn’t, am I right? I mean, they’re the closest living relative to dinosaurs (I think that’s what science says these days). And, they can fly! And, flying is the second most common superpower of choice, second only to time travel (Googled it). That brings me to another thing that I love: fishing. This essay is like eating ice cream in bed—it’s a blend of two things that I love.

And, why just 3 birds, you ask? Well, let me start by saying that BIRDS ARE FREAKING AMAZING! Think about it, there are so many shapes and sizes, colors and textures, behaviors and personalities. We’ve all admired them at one point or another in our lives. Admit it! If you’re reading this, you probably lie somewhere between fed the ducks at the local pond once when you were a kid and sat patiently for 5 hours in a wet rainforest to capture that perfect Nat Geo photo of the rare Iquitos Gnatcatcher of Peru through your uber expensive 5 lb. telephoto lens. We as humans have an innate sense of curiosity. Have you not wondered how far birds can migrate? (The arctic tern migrates up to 44,100 miles round trip in a year. Googled it). Have you not been curious if Big Bird is a male or female? (Spoiler alert: he’s a male.) I think I’ve made my point. So we’ve established that you as an audience are curious about birds and want more birds on this list. And yes, I could’ve put together a more comprehensive list that covers the full magnificence of the world that our fine feathered friends live in. But, that would take a lifetime. Even a “Top 10” list would take some doing. So you get 3. That is all. So, to reiterate, I am not an expert. And when it comes to covering this topic, I’ll mostly be “winging” it.

First, it’s story time with Uncle Brock (get used to it).

So there I was, in my happy place… the warmth of the sun on my face… the crunch of actual dirt under my wading boots… the scent of a pine forest newly thawed after winter’s frozen embrace. It was a late Spring morning in Southwest, Colorado. I had temporarily escaped the ice and snow of the high country where I was living at the time (yes, I had a beard and wore flannel… often). At 9,300 feet above sea level, Rico was still smothered by the pow pow. However, sitting at around 7,000 feet elevation just below the McPhee Dam on the Dolores River was little ol’ me with not a trace of the white stuff anywhere in sight. I felt sort of human again (we’re truly not meant to endure sub-zero temps for extended periods of time, but that’s a story for another time). As a tailwater (the classification of a river below a dam), the section I was fishing was known to be a great trout fishery whether it’s during Fall or Spring thaw as the dam helps to moderate water temps and flows while keeping conditions somewhat consistent for the fish—yet another reason I was there.

I stood on the banks patiently casting various nymph patterns into a deep pool that was being fed by a bottleneck riffle. The hole wasn’t more than 40 feet wide. Hemingway himself would’ve written about this fishing hole if he had ventured upon it. There were some hogs in there, I just knew it. It was a fact: 20+ inch rainbow and brown trout were known to lurk in the Dolores. I crossed my fingers hoping that they were not only in that hole, but hungry after a full winter of dieting (more precisely, they slow their metabolism due to the colder water, lack of food and decreased space). Holes like that one tend to be great spots for trout as they overwinter. Deeper water provides a reprieve from the faster moving water where they’d have to work harder and use more energy. They also provide safety from predators. How’s that for a segue?!

I was getting skunked, to put it bluntly. But I just knew fish were in there! In my heart of hearts, I just knew. I threw everything but the kitchen sink at those fish: prince nymphs, pheasant tail nymphs, scuds, ants, beetles, San Juan worms, egg patterns. My frustration was mounting. I stayed calm though. Serenity now! It was, remember, a gorgeous morning with the sun warming my skin, dirt beneath my boots, no snow, yada yada. Why won’t these dam fish take a fly! (Get it, “dam”… I was near a dam). OK, seriously. It had been like an hour.

What happened next rocked my world!

The pool exploded! Literally (but not literally). It was like a bomb went off right in the middle of the pool just 10 feet from where I stood. It all happened so fast, it was difficult for my senses to interpret what had transpired in real time. Seconds later, emerging from the post-explosion frothy water was a mess of gangly, angled limbs and feathers. It was a bird! It was a large bird! It was an osprey! The water-logged creature struggled for a second to ascend from the pool. The last parts of the bird to emerge were its talons. Holy crap—It was clutching a huge trout! One of MY trout! Words that come to mind to describe how I felt in that moment: dumbfounded, shocked, speechless, awestruck… pissed off! Yeah, pissed off! I was working that pool for hours! (less than an hour). The osprey must’ve been watching the whole time, plotting for when it would make its move and completely expose me for the wretched angler that I was.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Now to my list of Top 3 Birds that Fish. Sorry for the lengthy build-up. (I’m not sorry).

#3: Great Blue Heron

The Straight Skinny

It’s such a cool bird that we named our inaugural Bird Island Outfitters® SUP+KAYAK after it! (Well, we called it HERON. Great Blue Heron would’ve been a bit too long). From here on out I will refer to them as “GBH”. They are super tall wading birds with spindly legs and a lengthy, serpentine neck (s-shaped during flight) sporting a blue-gray back, blackish sides and a gray and white striped belly. They’re very regal looking. If you’ve never seen one, do yourself a favor and go to a lake and keep an eye on the banks. In time, you might see a statue of a big bird staring at the water. THAT’S AN ACTUAL BIRD! Seriously, have you ever seen a more focused bird in your life? With little to no movement, they’ll focus their gaze on the water and wait for an oblivious fish to swim by, just close enough to snatch. Think about a lion in the savannah grasses stalking its unsuspecting prey. It’s like that! If you’ve ever approached one a wee bit too close, you probably heard the raucous call that gave the bird the nickname“Ol’ Cranky” as it flew off to find another peaceful perch along the bank.

Size Matters

The GBH is the largest North American heron, with a height of 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 feet and a length of 3 to 4-1/2 feet head to tail. Weighing in at 5-6 lbs, they are lighter than their size would suggest. Their bones are hollow, as are most birds (densities vary based on species, ie. albatross vs. penguin). In flight, they’ll curl their necks into a tight “S” curve with a magnificent wingspan on full display. We’re talking up to 6 feet across!

Real Estate

The range for the GBH extends from as far north as southern Alaska in North America down to Central America, even gracing the northern fringes of South America. Their habitats include inland freshwater lakes and rivers, mangrove systems, coastal wetlands, and brackish marshes and lagoons. Coincidentally, those are my favorite places to fish too.

Getting Their Grub On

GBH’s will eat almost anything within striking distance of their lengthy, dagger-like bills. They are categorized as generalists, feeding on a variety of available prey items. They feed mainly on fish and amphibians by either slowly wading through the water or waiting patiently at water’s edge. Akin to caulking a gun, when they spot their prey they’ll stretch out their uber-long neck and hold it still—locked and loaded! When the time is right, they’ll strike with their spear-like bill. They’ve also been known to feed on small mammals, reptiles, crustaceans, insects, and birds. Note: *herons spend approximately 90 percent of their waking hours stalking their food. Talk about a one track mind.

Fine Feathery Fact

Herons will use their chest feathers to remove fish slime and oils from their other feathers as they preen. Grooming is essential for the survival of birds, ie. insulation and flight efficiency.

Another Fine Feathery Fact

During breeding season, the lore (region between the eye and bill on the side of the head) of the GBH will turn a bright blue, the iris will turn reddish and the yellow bill will take on an orange hue. I love when animals change color!

Cray Cray Fact!

On excessively hot days, GBH’s have been observed perched with drooped wings, necks extended and beaks open. Like a dog panting, they’ll flutter their throat muscles to increase evaporation, an action called “gular fluttering”. Apparently the drooped wings allow air flow while removing excess heat. Who knew?!

Earmuffs, Kids!

Like eating a bowl of fuzzy M&Ms, GBH’s have been observed hunting and eating cute, cuddly baby ducks (you can’t eat just one) right through the duck breeding season from the start of spring and to the end of the summer months. They’ll eat ducklings regularly throughout these seasons as an essential part of their diet. Herons are no joke… nothing to quack up about!

A Little Somethin’ Extra (your welcome)

What did the Heron get tattooed on its chest? “No Egrets”

#2: Kingfisher

The Straight Skinny

So, #2 is a toss up between the Belted Kingfisher of North America and the Common Kingfisher of Europe. They’re both badass! The name says it all. Superman was named “Superman” for a reason. Am I right? These two kingfishers fish like the dickens. And, they look good doing it by rocking some seriously striking colors and markings. If you’ve seen them in the wild, you know that they fly super fast and super straight, while maintaining extreme poise and focus. They move with a particular grace. The word “charisma” comes to mind.

Size Matters

Who doesn’t like hummingbirds, right?! Kingfishers are like hummingbirds on steroids… and not as nervous or high-strung. More specifically, these two kingfishers are about the size of a robin with wingspans around 10 inches. They’re stocky with large heads (relative to their body), long bills, short legs, and stubby tails. Their features are a bit exaggerated, almost cartoon-like.

Real Estate

Location, location, location. Kingfishers prefer habitat next to streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and estuaries. In fact, during the winter, they choose areas where the water doesn’t freeze so that they have constant access to fish. You won’t see a kingfisher building the classic, stereotypical nest with sticks and grass anytime soon. That’s because they nest in burrows dug into earthen banks, tree cavities, or old termite mounds. They use their feet to do the digging which takes three to seven days to complete. That cozy little burrow often slopes upward to avoid flooding (smart little fellers) and is usually a few feet deep.

Getting Their Grub On

Now let’s talk about that beak. It’s prominent, right?! It’s like a dagger—girthy, long, sharp and pointed (that’s what she said). When it comes to fish, they mainly target small fish such as minnows. And, they need to eat a lot of them. Kingfishers need to eat their own body weight in food each day which is about 5,000 fish over the course of a summer. They hunt with supreme precision. Before it takes the plunge, a kingfisher will patiently sit on a perch and bob its head back and forth to zero in on the exact location of a target, all the while keeping its body perfectly still. Once it’s spotted a potential meal, it’ll make a few wingbeats… faster than a buttered bullet, it’ll dive headfirst at a speed of up to 25 mph, folding its wings tight against the sides of its body upon entering the water. It’s a sight to behold (as long as you don’t blink). Now, you may be wondering what happens underwater during this process and how these birds find their way, not to mention a darting fish. Most of us have opened our eyes underwater at the pool. Pretty blurry, right? Check this out: Their vision in the air is akin to humans looking with one eye through a monocle. Upon entering the water, their eyes turn into binoculars helping them overcome the change in refraction between air and water. Although the underwater vision is not as sharp as it is in the air, it is more important for a kingfisher to be able to judge the distance of the moving prey than to have a clear image. While underwater, it protects its eyeballs by closing a transparent, nictitating membrane (sort of like a third eyelid) over the eyes. Other aquatic animals like beavers can do this too. Pretty cool stuff.

Fine Feathery Fact

Using nature to find sustainable solutions to human problems is called “biomimicry”. In the late 90’s Japanese engineers modeled a bullet train after a kingfisher. In particular they modeled the front of the train after the bird’s large head and long, narrow beak. Prior to this new design, the bullet trains were getting so fast that the typical bullet shape was causing a loud booming sound when these trains would exit typical train tunnels. What was happening was that a cushion of air would build up in front of the speeding train, which was moving at nearly 300 kilometers an hour. The new design silenced the boom, and the critics. On top of that, the enhanced aerodynamics saved 10-15% more energy!

Another Fine Feathery Fact

Kingfishers have been known to dive straight through a layer of thin ice to catch a fish!

Cray Cray Fact

Many of the world’s 86 kingfisher species don’t even eat fish and rarely go near water. Whah???? In tropical regions of Asia, Africa and Australia they hunt in woodlands, where the smaller ones, like the four-inch pygmy kingfisher, will eat grasshoppers and centipedes. The larger ones will take frogs, reptiles, small mammals, and even snakes… sometimes up to 3 feet long!

Earmuffs, Kids!

After they fledge (develop enough wing feathers for flight) many young kingfishers will die within days of leaving the nest. Why? Often their first dives leave them so waterlogged that they end up drowning.

#1: (insert drum roll here) Osprey

The Straight Skinny

If it looks like a hawk and smells like a hawk, it must be a hawk. This is true with ospreys. In fact, they’re nicknamed the “Fish Hawk”. A fish to an osprey is like a peanut butter, strawberry jam and bacon sandwich to Fat Elvis (Googled it)! As this large hawk soars above the water you’d identify this raptor by its white undersides and crook in its narrow wings. Adults are dark brown on top with brownish-black marks on the wings and brown speckling on the breast. The head is white with a dark brown crown and brown streak down the cheek. (I’d love to see a courtroom sketch artist work with that one). 

Size Matters

They weigh around 3 lbs. Light buggers, these ospreys (they prefer the term “gravitationally gifted”). When it comes to wingspan, I can’t help but take a walk down memory lane and revisit the time I had a full sized Michael Jordan poster in my bedroom with arms outstretched with one hand palming a basketball. Anywho, here’s the straight skinny on the osprey: they have a wingspan of 5 feet on average, which is pretty notable. BTW: Michael Jordan’s wingspan is 6’11”, just saying. 

Real Estate

Ospreys are found all over the globe, with the exception of Antarctica! They are one of the most widely distributed birds, breeding throughout much of North America, Northern Europe and Asia and around the coast of Australia. In terms of habitat, they tend to stay close to any expanse of shallow, fish-filled water, including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, lagoons, swamps, and marshes. They make large nests (usually not more than 12 miles from their hunting grounds) on the top of trees, and often in dead snags. They will readily use nest platforms or other man-made structures like utility poles to nest on. Nests consist of sticks and are commonly lined with bark, sod, grasses, vines, algae, pretty much anything they can get their gnarled talons on. Initially, their nests are less than 2.5 feet in diameter and 3–6 inches deep. After generations of adding to the nest year after year, these nests can end up being 10-13 feet deep and 3-6 feet in diameter. That’s big enough for Shaq to fit inside!

Getting Their Grub On

Fish with a side of fish, please! Though fish are, by far, the bulk of an osprey’s diet, they have been observed catching a wide variety of other prey, including other birds, reptiles and even crustaceans. Note: unable to dive to more than a couple feet below the surface of the water, ospreys tend to hunt on shallow fishing grounds, frequenting deep water only where fish will school near the surface. To help them with capturing their prey, they sport long legs and large feet with specialized barbs on the pads and hooked talons. They hunt by hovering over water and then diving feet first to capture prey in those powerful talons which have a reversible outer toe. These specialized toes helps them carry their slippery dinner—two toes in front and toe toes behind! But, before you try to catch your prey, you gotta spot it, right? While not as visually equipped as an eagle, the eyesight of an osprey ain’t too shabby my friend. Their vision is several times more acute than that of we mortal humans. On top of that, the osprey’s eyes face forward (akin to most birds of prey), which provides excellent depth perception. I’d get into the deeper science here, but that would just bore you and, frankly, me.

Fine Feathery Fact

Ospreys can communicate in a variety of ways. One particular study showed that they have eight distinctive vocalizations to express feelings such as excitement, alarm, and requests for food. They also have 11 physical displays to convey messages of courtship, protection, rest, and attack. Note: males looking to get a little closer to a female (if you know what I mean, wink wink) will perform an aerial display known as the “sky-dance.” The male will bring food or materials for the nest while hovering, wobbling in flight, and making a screaming sound. This, apparently, attracts the female. I tried this once at a bar. I’m not even going to continue this joke. I respect you too much.

Another Fine Feathery Fact

How’s this: during flight after it has caught a fish, an osprey will manipulate its prize in just a way so that it is parallel to the bird’s body, thus being aerodynamic. Ingenious!

Cray Cray Fact

Ospreys catch fish like Steph Curry drains 3’s. They are successful one out of every four dives. Now, Steph Curry is widely considered the best shooter in NBA history. He is straight money in two out of every five 3-point shot attempts. Sorry to get all “sporty” on you. I was just trying to find a human comparison that the millennials would pick up on. Don’t want to lose that demo!

A Serious Topic

DDT, people! It’s a killer. During the mid-20th century, North American osprey populations took a huge hit (along with other birds of prey) due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. Let’s dissect this for a moment. When this toxin was emitted into the environment between the 1940s and 1970 it found its way into the food chain at a micro level. I’ll break it down for you. Where do ospreys sit on this chain? Near the top! As this toxin bio magnifies through the food chain (slugs consume it + a fish consumes a bunch of slugs + an osprey consumes a bunch of fish… you get the picture) the ospreys become loaded with the nasty stuff. Reproduction is, among other things, greatly affected by this toxic magnification. The DDT, studies have shown, affects the hardness of the eggshell causing them to thin which reduces the number of eggs that successfully hatch live chicks. Fortunately, ospreys have proven to be resilient. After DDT and other contaminants were banned in 1971 and 1972 in the US, the osprey populations here have recovered fairly quickly. Moral to the story: let’s be mindful of what we put into our environment. Let’s learn from our mistakes and start thinking about all the creatures, not just ourselves, that call this wonderfully diverse planet “home”.

Thanks for reading. I hope you learned a little something about our fine feathered friends. Yes, it was definitely a “lofty” undertaking. But, it was a “hoot” to put together.

[ Cover Photo by Andrew Mckie from Pexels ]

Brock Munson | Contributor
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