Bittern question

[FUDGEY]

Seen a lot of great photos from my Flikr contacts recently of Bitterns on the ice of frozen Lakes. I was wondering what they fed on when there was a lid on the waters? Do people put dead fish out or do they not eat dead fish??? They must struggle badly finding natural food when its like this.

[aeshna5]

Last winter some reserves did use supplementary feeding of (dead) fish to them- so yes they will take this. Like most herons they will take other animal life too including smaller birds + mammals. I think one was observed consuming a Water Rail last winter. Obviously they will take amphibians but these are not likely to be available to them in a freeze as they are dormant.

[faz]

as aeshna5 says they will eat all sorts of small mammels birds insects fish etc