Green Heron paradise at Willow Creek shallows

Green Heron at University Bay, sitting on branch in lower right.

Arlene Koziol was photographing the group of bikers who set out on field trip with Daniel Einstein at Willow Creek Bridge on Sept 18. Jeff, one of the bikers, noticed a Green heron fishing in the bay waters. Arlene got some good shots and then returned the next day equipped with her birding camera gear. This is what she reports:

"Lake Mendota, University Bay, UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Sept 19, 2016. I had a great time watching the acrobatics of a Juvenile Green Heron foraging. It was catching sunfish and large-mouthed bass (fish ID’d by John Magnuson). Patience is the Green Heron’s virtue and the key to his unique fishing technique. The Green Heron would remain motionless, like a statue, waiting for a fish to swim by. His strike was so fast, my eyes could not see it. Only my camera could capture the action." For the entire sequence of photos, see Arlene's Flicker site.

The elusive Green Heron is the symbol of the Friends of the Lakeshore Preserve. When the Friends organization was formed about 15 years ago, Roma Lenehan reports, they contacted Kandis Elliot, the then senior artist for the UW Zoology Department, to create a logo. Roma said “the Green Heron seemed to fit us best". The nature drawings on the membership renewal cards you receive in the mail, are also by Elliot (see more of her drawings and posters at the Zoology Museum site) 

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