Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-31
HOW BIRDS CATCH FISH
WAYS OF FEATHERED HUNTERS
IN SECURING THEIR PREY.
characteristics Of the Belted King
Fisher-Evolutions Of the Osprey
and the Heron.
From the Hartford Daily Times.

From the Hartford Daily Times
Very many species of birds feed entirely
or almost entirely on fish. and among them
they have as many ways OF capturing their
prey as human fishermen have. Some. with
more patience than most men possess. stand
silently on the shores. waiting for the fish
to approach them; others put out to sea
and capture their prey in deep water
or these feathered fishermen. none IL more
familiar than the belted kingfisher. which
may be seen In the eastern states at almost
any time between March and December.
His favorite fishing grounds are wooded
streams and ponds, though he may often
be seen in the vicinity Of salt water. The
kingfisher spends much of his time watch
ing for fish from some favorite perch. such
as stake In the river or an overhanging
branch. From such a point he makes
short journeys out over the water. some
times returning at once, at other times fly
ing to some other nearby perch. 1t is while
on these little trips that he does his fishing
AS he catches sight of a fish near the
surface OF the water. he hangs fiuttering
Tor moment above IT and then pitche
down into the river or lake often di.ap-
pearing from view in jet of flying spray.
II successful. he soon arises with the strug-
Cling fish held safe in his stout two-inch
Dill, shakes the water from his plumage
and. rafting proudly. flies TO some con-
Venent place to eat his prey.
Clutches His Victim.
Somewhat similar are the methods OF the
osprey. AS he swings In wide circles through
the clouds, his wonderful eye searches the
water for some sign which may betray the
presence. of a fish. AS he receives the sign,
he stops saning. and with Tapping wings
he steadies himself for a plunge. Then
downward he speeds. in meteorc flight.
striking the water with such. force that a
fountain Of spray shoots upward from the
place where he disappears. For a moment
ne Is lost, then up he rises in laborerd
flight. lifting a shining captive which he
grapp.es in his eight black talons, and he
bears away to some dead tree. where he
tears 1t to pieces with his hooked bill.
Quite different are the fishing methods
adopted by the herons. With heads drawn
in between their shoulders. and often upon
one leg, like statues they stand on the
bank of pond or stream, waiting for the
fish to come within striking distance OF
their spear-like bills. At other times they
wade cautiously out into the water. lifting
and placing their feet with extraordinary
care. les they alarm the fish they APP
preaching. When near enough. the long
neck shoots out, and it is suddenly with
drawn. and, behold, the successful heron
has fish. If 1t is a small one, he gives IL
shake and swallows it. head first; if a
large one, he may have to pound It little
on the bank, to make 1t more willing to be
swallowed quietly. He will then resume
fishing as patiently as before
Different again is the method of the white
pelican, who catches his prey while SWIM
ming. A flock Of pelicans will surround a
school of small fish. and by beating the
water with their long wings drive their VIC
tins toward the shore. As they proceed.
each pelican Is busy scooping up the fish
into the big pouch with which his lower
mandible is provided. After sufficient
number have been melted" the birds go
ashore for a fish dinner. ----------
+ Pirate Birds.
Jaegers and skuas are sea pirates and
obtain their fish by robbing the gulls and
terms When one Of the latter birds has
captured fish one of these pirates will
pursue him and force him to disgorge his
prey. This form Of piracy Is practiced by
many other fish-eating BIRDS most of which
are skillful enough to catch the disgorged
plumber in midair Guls obtain their fish
by taking it neatly from. the surface of the
water; terms plunge into the sea, remaining
out of sight for several seconds before aris-
ing with their prey.
The skinner has still another method.
He flies rapidly along. close to the water.
with his knife-like lower mandible carried
just beneath the surface, and ready to
catch up any prey which may cross his
path. Gannets alternately fly and sail above
the water, and secure their fish by drop
ping from the air. Darters and cormorants
dive from low perch or from the surface
: anu pursue their HSn under water r Inc
serrated bills of the former and the hooked
bills of the latter are well adapted for hold
ing such slippery prey. Sheldrakes also,
capture their fish by pursuing them under
water. and hold them easily in their saw
edged bills
The man-o'-war bird does his fishing
while. on the wing, and In several different
ways. He Is extremely active, and some
times catches his prey at the surface, some
times as 1t leaps out of the water, and
sonnet times he pursues successful guls and
terms and forces them to disgorge the fish
ha1 hay cal injured 70 their nu,t iiSa