Every Wednesday, I post one of my nature photos – a ‘Whisper’ that’s my version of stopping to smell the roses. Perhaps if we pay a bit more attention to the nature that’s all around us, we’ll be more inclined to cherish and protect it. Scroll below the photo to learn more about the subject. Enjoy!
Great blue herons (Ardea herodias) are large birds, and very common throughout North America; I see them often in suburban settings here at home as well as up in the Adirondacks, where I photographed this one. They are primarily fish eaters and can often be spotted in the shallows of ponds and lakes. They fish by wading slowly and then standing motionless while watching for their prey to swim by – a trait which makes them quite easy to photograph. The heron strikes by stabbing the fish with its large bill, then swallows it whole.
Because of their size, they’ve quite impressive in flight as well. If they’re flying any distance they will fold their long necks compactly against their body while their long legs trail straight out behind. Their call is a raspy “cawing” or clacking sound.
