Birds fishing in the French Broad River, Tennessee
Douglas Dam was built on the French Broad River just east of Knoxville, Tennessee in just over 1 year’s time as part of the war effort in 1943, creating the very large Douglas Lake. When the dam gates are open the resulting flow creates a very turbulent process in the river just below the dam, and this environment attracts many fish, and along with them, many fish-hunting birds. It is the only place where I have seen Great Blue Herons, which normally wade in shallower waters, soar over the middle of the river and then land right in the river, just like a duck. After gorging themselves with fish, they then take off of the water looking slightly awkward, but succeeding. They are accompanied by other fishers—Ospreys especially, night herons, cormorants, bald eagles, etc.
The following images are from the river’s edge just below the Douglas Dam
Osprey Flying over the river
Osprey in high speed dive for a fish
Osprey and Heron hunting simultaneously
Great Blue Heron flying over the river
Hunting over the river
Start of the trail through the cooled lava lake
Great Blue Heron preparing to “land” in the river
Heron with neck bulging from a full crop beginning to take off from river
Almost out of the water, stepping on surface
Made it! Successful takeoff from the deep water
Fish view of hunting osprey. The fourth primary wing feather on each side is growing in as part of the summer molting process. Each pair of primaries is replaced sequentially in preparation for fall migration
Black-crowned Night Heron searching the river
Osprey hunting
Hunting osprey showing nictitating membrane—the “third eyelid” that protects the eye from damage, dust, and dryness during high speed flight and when hitting the water. The word comes from the Latin Nictare, meaning to blink. It gives the eye a slightly cloudy look when deployed.