by Joyce Kramer

We have all seen them, the birds of Lake Seminole that fish to survive. Nature has endowed them with special skills and sharp instincts by which they know just how to catch the food that they need to make it to the next day. This know-how guides them to where to find the next honey hole where they can find enough food to keep wings and feathers together.

To our winged friends, technique is everything. Some birds dive down in the water. These species have heavy bodies that allow some to go as deep as twelve inches in search of their dinner. Some can stay under as long as two minutes before surfacing a far piece from where they originally submerged.

Those that are strong swimmers propel themselves with muscular legs and broad, webbed feet. Some of these powerful birds go after their prey above water before catching it.

Some hover above their sighted prey before diving down for their catch. They glide above the water, waiting and watching until they spot a fish. Then, with wings folded, the bird drops head first into the water. Resembling a torpedo, zeroing in on its target, it  snatches the fish in its bill. Then, hanging on to its catch, it leaps out of the water flapping wet wings, spraying water droplets into the air in mid-flight. Now, it will make its way to an eating spot. This can be on a branch or its nest.

Still others fish the banks, watching in the shallows for a meal. Their sharp eyesight, strong sense of smell and insurmountable patience allows them to catch the fish that they need.

Most birds clutch their catches in their bills, while others will grab at it with their feet. Either way, they are very effective.

Upon Lake Seminole, there are many fishing birds that call it home so we will just talk of some of the ones that are easily found and easy to see.

One of the most common of the birds is the osprey. They are very visible raptors that live in the lake and rivers. They are also the only raptors to rely on fish for survival. They are in the category of divers.

They have one of the most dramatic fishing styles in the world. You will often see them sitting above the water, some thirty feet up on a tree branch.

Then, it spots its prey. A good size bream has swum across the line of sight. It will fold its wings and drop down to snatch the fish.

Sometimes, it will remain inches above the water before going in. Then, almost delicately, it grabs its large catch, and clears the water.

An osprey is known often to grab a very large fish, one that is up to half of the bird’s weight. Occasionally, this “eyes bigger than it can handle” fish causes the bird to crash back into the water. However, this soaking doesn’t cause the bird to drown or for it to get hypothermia. It is equipped with oily, water repellent feathers and extremely long wings, which gives it a span that can go up to 72 inches across. Watching it is an interesting and most impressive sight.

At the opposite end of the fishing style is that of the herons and egrets, which live in or near the marshes of our lakes and rivers.  They love to fish the banks and dine on the many available species of fish that live there.

The great blue heron is our most common bird. It resembles the ancient specie of bird pterodactyl. It can grow to be some 52 inches in height. Supported by long, thin legs, it is a bluish gray color all over. It can lift its large body off of the land with extreme grace.

Usually a quiet bird, it emits a loud hoarse croak when startled. With wings flapping, its call echoes across the water as it settles down on the river bank to forage in the shallows for its prey.

Watching a heron fish is mesmerizing. It moves through its chosen patch of weeds one careful step at a time. It searches the waters edge with keen eyes. Its long neck allows it to have a wide field of vision along the banks.

When fish are scarce, it will eat the vegetation along the river’s banks.

The snowy egret is another large fishing bird that calls our area home. It lives across America, from the southern areas of Alaska to our steamy marshes and swamps.

A tall, gangly bird, they grow to around 40 inches high. With their very long necks and striking yellow bill, they are a beautiful sight. They will perch by the dozens in the tops of trees. When seen from afar on Lake Seminole’s islands, they look like hundreds of white flowers blooming in the high vegetation. They nest in clusters providing more eyes to see predators. This also allows some to nap while others watch and hunt for fish.

Their sound is eerie and frightening, like a group of people screaming. You will know this noise when you hear it. At first, it may send shivers up your back.

The snowy egret was in danger in early 1900’s when they were killed for fashion feathers. Now, they have made a come-back; but are still a protected species making it illegal to kill them.

The snowy egret’s fishing skills are like those of the great blue heron. They prefer to stalk their food along the banks and in the shallows where the vegetation is high. They often shuffle their feet as they move along to flush their prey into view.

They also do “dip fishing”.  With their feet just far enough over in the water, they will stand still and wait in ambush. When the prey is in within their reach, they quickly dip their head down and strike.

Snowy egrets will eat fish, crustaceans like our mussels and small snails, and insects.

The next time you are out, sitting with your pole and line in the calm, blue waters of Lake Seminole, take some time to observe nature at work. Notice the meticulous movements, the keen eyesight and the patience that is being demonstrated before you by these fragile, yet tough birds. Even some of the world’s best anglers cannot compare in prowess to that of the fishing birds.

Photos by Dale Kramer