Ain't bigfoot

[John]

This deal might not be too strange, but it was a new one for me while being outdoors, and I've been spending time outdoors for a good many years.

I suppose you've all seen a Great Blue Heron. They are quite common around water, usually seen fishing along the shore or in shallow water.

I've just always assumed that they made a nest on the ground somewhere around water, but I've never actually seen the nest of a Great Blue Heron.

That ended while I was fishing a local river last Thursday. Those big birds nest in trees, and they are colony nesters. I found a huge sycamore that must have 50....maybe even more, I didn't count, nests in it. They are made like large baskets, and the herons on them even look small compared to the nest.

I'm thinking they use the same tree year after year also. Last spring I was fishing near the place where I was Thursday, and the herons kept making a hell of alot of racket. I didn't pay much attention except that the noise got rather bothersome. Now I'm thinking they were feeding the chicks last year in the same nest tree, because it was later in the spring when I was there, and they were quiet Thursday.

Anyone else seen a nest tree full of blue herons?

[michbob]

Never saw one myself, but we have them up here, too.  All those birds end up killing the tree and the surrounding vegetation; they use a tree for years, and when they relieve themselves, they just lean over the edge of the nest and let fly.  All of that acidic bird poo is not exactly good for plants. :wink:

Eventually, the tree dies, and a big wind comes along and BOOM!  Hopefully not while they are nesting.

Just one of those curious things...

Michbob.

[John]

Interesting, most of the nests in the tree I come across are actually hanging out over the river. I'm thinking it would be a good catfish hole if there wasn't a current. Right now there alot of current as the river is up several feet, but when it's down and still, there's no way to get down there by boat, and I'm not walkin. haha

[Mikey]

John:  they are little more than predatory wildfoul.  Those s.o.b.s can clean out a trout or bass pond in less than a week.  They used to be on the endangered list here in NYS because in the early 90s they were using DDT on shorelines and felt that may have reduced the population by weakening the shells - NOT.  Those prehistoric fish mongering monsters have come back with a vengence and now they are protected at all.  

One of my neighbors has a 1 acre trout pond and just one Heron cleaned it out in a matter of days.  But, when they come to my pond, they are extremely endangered.  Nuff said.  Mikey.

[John]

Mikey, that's the way folks around here think about those damned water turkeys (cormorants).

They are still protected, but seems they are always dying of old age or something..... :grin:  :grin:  :grin:

Haven't heard any complaints about the big herons, but then again I don't know anybody that's trying to raise any fish.

Bet they would be a problem for somebody in the mud bug business too.

[Mikey]

If by mud bugs you mean frogs - oh yeah, the Herons love them too.  Anything that is a free meal without a lot of cometition.  I don't think herons and comorants co-habitate the same areas - I think they are competitors.  I know that herons DO NOT lie big hawks, not at all.  Herons nest in the treetops and when one is out fishing the other will watch the chicks.  Now, if jes onna dem burds accidently drops dead of lead poisoning, that leave the other to leave the kiddes at home while out looking fer dinner and a big hawk makes them very nervous.

Two years ago I had a very large Red-Tail Hawk hanging around my pond, and I was happy he was there because I didn't see the Herons.  Late one afternoon he was sitting in his favorite tree keeping an eye on me and my dogs, and I thought I would try something.  I went back to the house and got my fishing pole and pulled out a couple of fat bullhead, took that large spine off their backs and threw them over where he could get them.

I went to the other side of the pond with the dogs and with both those fish still flopping, it took about 3 seconds for him to come to dinner.  He stayed all summer long and I didn't see but two Herons and they looked pretty nervous.  I think I just saw that Hawk for the first time this year, yesterday.  What a nice Easter present.  Mikey.

[Shorty]

Mikey,
You can't be faulted for helping to restore the balance of nature.  After all, even the Goo-goos approve of raising Peregrine falcons in the city to control pigeons! :wink:

[John]

Mikey, you must be from up north.....mud bugs are crawdads, some good eatin.

I took a fishin buddy to see those heron nests today, and do a little fishin. When we got to the area we did some more looking around, and there's several trees in about a quarter square mile area with heron nests in them.

It's gonna take alot of fish to get all those chicks raised.

[Mikey]

John:  Yep, up north.  But, my pond has a bunch of crawdaddies in it - I put them there myself.  Catch one now and then just to be sure, but throw them back in (unless they are lobster size).  Mikey.

[John]

Mudbugs make some fine eatin, and they don't need to be lobster size either....hells bells, ya eat beans don't ya?

[Mikey]

John:  mostly the Crawdads are fodder for the Bass.  I stocked my pond with big mouth bass, bullheads, golden shiner and fathead minnows, and crawdaddies.  Even threw a Koi and a couple of goldfish in for good measure.  Mostly the crawdads, minnows and bullhead (spawn) are food for the bass, but when the bulls start getting too big I will fish out a couple of dozen and have a fish fry.  I know I still have crawdaddies in the pond because every now and then I run across an empy shell that was someone's dinner leftovers from the night before.  Looks like I know where I'm going to be on the next full moon........... nightfishin'.  Mikey.

[smoky]

Mikey,

John's right!  We're smack in the middle of crawfish season here in Louisiana, and there is nothin finer than a Saturday afternoon crawfish boil complete with mudbugs, red taters, ear corn, and a few adult beverages.

If you ever find yourself down south holler and we'll show you a treat to remember.

Smoky

[Mikey]

Smokey - thanks for the invitation, and you're on!  That menu sounds delicious and I'm sure that crawdaddies are a lot tastier cooked than they are as survival food on the run (LOL).  Mikey.

[smoky]

Just remember this...

Up North, when you visit a zoo, there will be a sign next to every animals cage that lists his scientific name and common name.

When you visit a Louisiana Zoo, there will be a sign that lists the scientific name, the common name, and a RECIPE!!

Smoky

[Gratman]

Why don't you send my that  recipe for that crawdaddy stew...I live in SE Missouri, where they have started scraping out ponds and raising "mudbugs" commercially.....well, they have been for about the past 3 or 4 years around here.   Went to a crawfish boil one evening , and they had a huge stockpot , full of small corn on the cob ears, little round taters, and mudbugs, with alot of Old Bay seasoning in there for good measure.....it was hot, a little spicey...and most of all delicious....if you have a recipe, I'd sure like to get it from an original southern chef.......Thanks

[smoky]

Gratman,

In regards to boilin crawfish, we use a pre measured product by a Louisiana company, Zattarans. They make all kinds of Louisiana food products including jambalaya mix, boiling mixes, etc. The one I use is their standard crab, shrimp and crawfish seasoning mix. It comes in a jar a little larger than a quart and it is sack size. We have an 80 quart pot that we fill about 1/2 full of water, add the whole jar of seasoning, bring to a boil, add 1 sack of crawfish (about 35 pounds) plus onions, taters, corn, garlic, etc. When you dump them in, the water will go below its boiling point, but once it regains its boil, we cook for 10 minutes and let them soak for ten minutes with the fire off. After you dump that batch out you can boil more in the remaining water.

If you want a crawfish stew recipe, we call it etoufee' (a-too-fay) down here. In that you use peeled crawfish tails as follows:

Ingredients:

1/4 lb butter; 1-2 lbs crawfish tails; 2 lg onions, chopped; 4 tsbp flour; 2 stalks celery, chopped; 2 cups water; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 4 chicken boullion cubes; 1 bell pepper, chopped; salt, red pepper, black pepper to taste

Melt butter in heavy skillet, saute veggies in butter for 30 minutes over low heat. Season to taste. Add cleaned crawfish tails, saute 1 minute. Add flour, continue to cook for 3 minutes. Add water, dissolved boullion cubes and simmer for 10 minutes over low heat. Remember to stir often to avoid any sticking.

Serve over rice.  Potato salad and garlic bread goes good with this one.

You should be able to find frozen crawfish tails at most super markets. I would think that you could find the crawfish boil as well, but if not let me know and I'll find out how you can get some up there.



Let me know how you like my etoufee' recipe.

Regards,

Smoky