iN PHOTOS: Blackbirds dive bomb heron trying to fish in Vernon pond

Vernon photographer Tom Skinner jokes that to capture a great bird portrait, you just need to take your own personal red wing blackbirds with you, train them and then let them do their thing.

Skinner captured these outstanding shots of a great blue heron in conflict with red wing blackbirds at Cools Pond in the BX neighbourhood, May 12.

"The (herons) will be fishing in an area where the blackbirds are nesting and usually the blackbirds will dive bomb the herons," Skinner said. "The males like to put on a bit of an aerial show."

Skinner said he's been documenting what he calls "bird wars" for the last couple of years. The birds weren't fighting over a particular fish. The blackbirds are defending their nesting areas as the herons come in and scoop up the potential dinner.

The herons no doubt flew in from their rookery near the Vernon Walmart where they've been nesting each year for over three decades.

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