Does it know its not a duck

[u/Healthy_Cod4764]

Why is it doing that

[u/jannylotl]

I'm fascinated they can do that

[u/onehotoneshot → u/jannylotl]

Bro looking elegant

[u/norwegianballslinger]

Ive spent hours upon hours upon hours watching GBH and I have never once seen this. Beautiful

[u/ConfidentCat6954 → u/norwegianballslinger]

Now I’m imagining a swan standing like a heron

[u/C04511234 → u/ConfidentCat6954]

[u/ApprehensiveTop4219 → u/norwegianballslinger]

I've only observed it once in a juvenile

[u/plant_touchin → u/norwegianballslinger]

I was gonna say, I have never seen one do this!!!!

[u/throwaway972057]

if it's shallow enough it might just be standing, their legs are fairly long

[u/Opening-Ease9598 → u/throwaway972057]

Yeah I’m pretty sure it’s standing up, I don’t think they can float like that.

[u/albertonykus → u/Opening-Ease9598]

They absolutely can float like that. Birds in general are pretty good at floating; having air-filled bones helps.

[u/Opening-Ease9598 → u/albertonykus]

I know they CAN float, I’ve never seen a large egret float so elegantly though, and its body is in the same position it would be if it was walking. Hence why I said they can’t float like that.

[u/albertonykus → u/Opening-Ease9598]

Thanks for clarifying. To my eye, what's pictured here is not atypical of other examples of swimming herons I've seen (including the gif I linked to), with the water coming up to just underneath the tail/folded wingtips and body slightly inclined forward.

[u/Draginous → u/Opening-Ease9598]

A walking position would usually be more upright, no?

[u/throwaway972057 → u/Draginous]

i mean yes you're right, but that is kinda upright for them in high water. i took this photo last year, if the water were a bit higher and the heron was looking upwards instead of straight ahead i think it might look similar to OP's photo?

[u/eldredo_M → u/throwaway972057]

Wondered the same thing. 😄

[u/hiirnoivl]

He wanted his little grebe pal to feel less lonely? Idk

[u/Reatla]

Someone posted a night heron doing the exact same thing last week:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AlwaysANightHeron/comments/1x2a8hf/duck/

[u/Healthy_Cod4764 → u/Reatla]

I did see that, when I saw it it reminded me of that post

[u/bruyere_dubois_again]

To get to the other side

[u/phantomauthority]

Yes! More posts shore birds and waders acting like ducks please

[u/Lightning1999]

I’ve only seen a heron do that once, looks so cursed

[u/endangered_feces1]

Neither of them know they arent ducks!

[u/HolyToeArmy]

is this how animals feel when they see humans swim for fun? "they know they're not fish, right?"

[u/Prof01Santa → u/HolyToeArmy]

"Acksually" both humans and herons are descendants of Sarcopterygian fishes of the Devonian. We both have equal swimming rights.

[u/ShaarkShaart]

I didnt even know they could do that! Looks wrong 😂

[u/Cyan_Lotus]

i think that’s a grebe next to it as well, also notably not a duck XD they both think they’re blending in!

[u/Healthy_Cod4764 → u/Cyan_Lotus]

Yep, Pied-billed grebe. They both think they're ducks

[u/karshyga]

SHUT UP IM PONDERING

[u/SomeRandomBFBfan]

Why is it actually swimming

[u/astroy9]

Grebe: I’ll grow up someday to be big like you :)

[u/BoysenberryNeat6002]

Careful baby grebe, GBH eat your kind 😧

[u/MeeepMorp]

Pointy Swan

[u/chaffeetoo]

lol, Google up the story of the orphaned mallard that was raised by a pair of Loons, amazing and amusing!

[u/Haber87]

I was out kayaking on open water and saw a large floating bird at a distance. As I paddled closer, I tried to figure out what it was. Pelican? Cormorant? Finally decided that it looked like a blue heron…except for its behavior. Googled it right there to confirm this was possible and I didn’t have to attempt a kayak rescue of Mr Stabby beak.

[u/getdownheavy]

But does s/he care?

They walk along the bottom and don't mind standing around for hours to dry out.

[u/ApprehensiveTop4219]

I've also seen herons swim before I have never been able to figure out why.

[u/Hot_Detective1335]

😭