A familiar silhouette along a river edge, this noble bird graces the sky with a power unmatched by many others. A quiet giant, you’ll find herons stalking the shorelines of most of the US.
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Their blue-grey plumage blends with the sky above, camouflaging them from the small aquatic life swimming naively by the heron’s stick-like legs. Their slender limbs allow them to silently wade through the shallows, a shadow of the shore.
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Their statuesque patience is rewarded with a flash of their long neck to snap up prey. Herons have specially shaped vertebra that assist in astonishingly fast strikes at a surprising distance range.
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Their long chest feathers grow continually and fray over time. As they preen, their feathers produce a powder that combats the fish oil and slimes of the swamp.
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Great Blue Herons nest in colonies of up to 500 individual nest sites. Males work hard in the spring collecting sticks for the females who then weave large platforms that grow over the years. Returning females’ nests can be built up to 4 feet across and another 4 feet deep, impressive structures that protect young chicks for the 75 days they live under their mothers watchful wings.
🔹
With a 6 foot wingspan, it is hard to believe, but herons only weigh 5 pounds. Their bones are hollow, as are the spines of the feathers. Despite herons light mass, deep wingbeats announce their presence overhead in between bouts of prehistoric like gliding.
🔹
One of my favorite birds, it was an honor to capture the elegance and magnificence of these stately souls. May your river trips always be graced with the presence of a Great Blue Heron
🔹
Their blue-grey plumage blends with the sky above, camouflaging them from the small aquatic life swimming naively by the heron’s stick-like legs. Their slender limbs allow them to silently wade through the shallows, a shadow of the shore.
🔹
Their statuesque patience is rewarded with a flash of their long neck to snap up prey. Herons have specially shaped vertebra that assist in astonishingly fast strikes at a surprising distance range.
🔹
Their long chest feathers grow continually and fray over time. As they preen, their feathers produce a powder that combats the fish oil and slimes of the swamp.
🔹
Great Blue Herons nest in colonies of up to 500 individual nest sites. Males work hard in the spring collecting sticks for the females who then weave large platforms that grow over the years. Returning females’ nests can be built up to 4 feet across and another 4 feet deep, impressive structures that protect young chicks for the 75 days they live under their mothers watchful wings.
🔹
With a 6 foot wingspan, it is hard to believe, but herons only weigh 5 pounds. Their bones are hollow, as are the spines of the feathers. Despite herons light mass, deep wingbeats announce their presence overhead in between bouts of prehistoric like gliding.
🔹
One of my favorite birds, it was an honor to capture the elegance and magnificence of these stately souls. May your river trips always be graced with the presence of a Great Blue Heron
Online shop on a break, find my work at Amelia's Boutique in Marquette, MI www.ameliascraftboutique.net
Photo from NatalieTracy
