to big to Swallow by danapommet
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Florida receives a lot of rain and then there are the hurricanes that Florida is famous for. Our property is about 7 feet (213cm) above sea level. In order to handle the torrential rains, Florida is crisscrossed with hundreds of major canals to drain away the water. Then there are the thousands on square lakes. Square because they are manmade. The state calls them retention ponds and they are designed to collect all that excess rain water. We live on one of these square retention ponds and use it to irrigate the lawn, bushes and trees. Many of these ponds are connected by huge culvert pipes to move excess rain water from multiple ponds into the canals, which eventually drain into the Atlantic Ocean.
When these retention ponds are built along the highways, they enclose them with green chain link fences, so people (children) do not fall in, and the birds and animals are protected. This is an adult Wood Stork. They are about 40 inches (102cm) tall and with an impressive wing span of 61 inches (155cm). This one caught a fish that was a little too big to swallow and the fish was flapping to try and escape. The Wood Stork moved up on the grass so the fish would not escape back into the pond, I watched him for 20 minutes until he got the fish lined up, just right, as you see it and could swallow it. Do ZOOM!
Photo taken March 18th along Jog Road west of Delray Beach.
Thanks for stopping by, taking a look and for all your previous comments and favs.
Dana

Comments (21)
Awesome shot! Amazing!
Fantastic shot! I can see where there might be a little bit of trouble I would almost expect the fish to put out its fins around the throat of the Stork and someone saying 'Never give up!'
This is a gorgeous capture mu friend, excellent image, very well done!
Great shot. I'm sure in the end he found away to dispose of this. LOL
Wow, you got a great action shot proving once again where there is a will there is a way.
Talk about taking a big bite! He must have a throat like a snake.
Excellent capture!! Talk about biting off more than you can chew.
Wow, what a scene! Too bad the bird couldn't just use that long bill to scissor the fish into pieces... Fantastic capture!
Great shot, very interesting birds these are!
You think with all the rain we get here, there would be more hydro power. ;) Great capture!
splendid shot!!! terrific bird!
Cool capture of the Wood Stock (or stork?) having difficulty consuming its prey. It could have choked during the process. You're very fortunate to have such interesting wildlife about your property.
Does that come with chips?? lol Great photo!!
i guess the guy was really hungry, or maybe just too greedy! Excellent shot!
Excellent shot! I wonder if he can digest it all or if some of the bones have to be expectorated or something. I like his neck. It looks like he's wearing a turtleneck sweater.
Wow, that is a mouthful for sure.
Excellent!
Someones eyes are greedier than their bellies or beaks in this case. Great in zoom!!!!
Outstanding shot my friend!
Nice shot,and great info, but why square ponds why not pond shaped ponds.
Hasn't he heard that you should never eat anything bigger than your head? Excellent shot and timing.