Great Blue Heron Hunting Successes and Failures

Great blue heron hunting successes and failures at Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, Florida. Not every catch is meant to be eaten, but most often they get it right. Although excellent hunters, great blue herons can be poor judges of size. Maybe it's a case of their "eyes are too big for their stomach!" They don't give up easily, but most often in the end they know when their prey is too large and they can't work it down their flexible throats. If they are mistaken and try to force it down, they could easily choke to death.