While herons will attempt to defend several hundred meters of shore along river edges, ponds and other wetland areas against other herons we have rarely had an opportunity to photograph them during any form of aggressive display. The most noticeable way they defend these sites is by chasing off intruders. Herons on adjacent territories display to one another by extending the wings away from the body, arching the neck, pointing the bill a few degrees above horizontals and erecting the feathers. These two actually flew at each other, striking out with feet, bills and wings...however there was no actual physical contact.

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