Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2080 23:08:01 -0800 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Rich Dolesh Subject: Bitterns swimming? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi folks, Just picked up on this thread of messages. For what it is worth, I have seen GBH's landing on open water (in order to fish--they lay fairly flat, and will try to dip fish); dive from a perch, so they are virtually submerged; and swim, from a floating position. More interestingly, back when I did some research on the folklore and oral history of railbirds (soras) on the Patuxent River, I found that there are many references to railbirds swimming under water, and also walking under water. Seems improbable, but these references were widespread. Probably most of the belief that hunters and other old-timers had about the birds came from their uncanny camouflage and ability to disappear in muskrat leads and other marsh runs. I have seen railbirds stay submerged for long periods, and lost many from sight. I, too, came to believe that they could swim, or something dang close to it. Rich Dolesh ----- Original Message ----- From: "Les Eastman" To: Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2002 6:10 PM Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Hughes Hollow, Saturday Oct. 26 > Rick Sussman wrote: > > > > I looked in most of my references and could find nothing about > > herons/bitterns swimming, > > I have seen Great Blue Herons swimming, or at least floating down stream > at Conowingo. The first time I saw one, I assumed it was going to drown, > but after a few minutes, it lifted off. > > Les > > =========== > Les Eastman > mailto:les@birdtreks.com > Havre de Grace, MD > > The eagle looked down on the river below > And he wrapped his wings round him and he fell like a stone > And the big salmon fought but the talons held true > And he shuddered as the world turned from silver to blue > Steve Earle > > ======================================================================= > To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com > with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey > ======================================================================= ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey =======================================================================