Yes, they are very secretive and I’ve never seen one in the open like you’ve captured here.
During my Everglades years I’d occasionally (and accidentally of course) run over an American Bittern in the airboat trail. Apparently, the bittern would be startled by the approach of the loud airboat on the trail, the bittern would fly out of the heavy sawgrass and into the airboat trails, which are devoid of any vegetation. When they did they would either go under the hull, hit me on my upper body or miss me entirely. I am thankful that not one bittern showed any sign of injury, even the ones that were run over. They simply flew away.
Robert
Here is one for everyone. Thunderpumper!…. the call of American bittern, but only when it. is quiet on the marsh. I have only heard it once, maybe twice. What a sound!
Nice image captures. I have only encountered them one time when two males were pursuing a female. I did not have a microphone which was a grievous oversight as they make a most distinctive sound.
elkhornsun wrote:
Nice image captures. I have only encountered them one time when two males were pursuing a female. I did not have a microphone which was a grievous oversight as they make a most distinctive sound.
Thanks for looking and leaving comments. Must have been pretty cool watching that behavior. If I'm lucky enough to see one it's always a single bird.
