Flying Great Blue Heron
by Nava Thompson
Title
Flying Great Blue Heron
Artist
Nava Thompson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Great Blue Heron flying across lake in NW Arkansas.DescriptionIt is the largest North American heron and, among all extant herons, it is surpassed only by the Goliath Heron and the White-bellied Heron. It has head-to-tail length of 91�137 cm (36�54 in), a wingspan of 167�201 cm (66�79 in), a height of 115�138 cm (45�54 in), and a weight of 2.1�3.6 kg (4.6�7.9 lb).[4][5][6] Notable features include slaty flight feathers, red-brown thighs, and a paired red-brown and black stripe up the flanks; the neck is rusty-gray, with black and white streaking down the front; the head is paler, with a nearly white face, and a pair of black plumes running from just above the eye to the back of the head. The feathers on the lower neck are long and plume-like; it also has plumes on the lower back at the start of the breeding season. The bill is dull yellowish, becoming orange briefly at the start of the breeding season, and the lower legs gray, also becoming orangey at the start of the breeding season. Immature birds are duller in color, with a dull blackish-gray crown, and the flank pattern only weakly defined; they have no plumes, and the bill is dull gray-yellow.[3][7][8] Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 43�49.2 cm (17�19.4 in), the tail is 15.2�19.5 cm (6.0�7.7 in), the culmen is 12.3�15.2 cm (4.8�6.0 in) and the tarsus is 15.7�21 cm (6.2�8.3 in).[9][10]
Uploaded
July 19th, 2012
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Comments (29)
Doug Kreuger
Wow Nava!! What a remarkable capture! Outstanding color & detail! Currie and Ives quality work! L&F PS: I really like FAA adding the "More from…" images links directly below the main featured artwork.
Nava Thompson replied:
Doug---thank you for your great compliment---I like 'Currie and Ives'! (I agree about the new feature)---thanks again!
Nava Jo Thompson
Elaine and Charles---thank you for featuring my Blue Heron in 'Your Best Work' group! Much appreciated.
Nava Jo Thompson
Thank you Elaine and Charles for the feature in Nature Wildlife Sunsets and Sunrises!
Deb Halloran
Nava Jo, I am paying you a "surprise" visit from the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery Group to vote and promote. I absolutely love this image of the Great Blue Heron in flight. Your detail is amazing combined with the reflections on the water it is a true work of art. fave and vote
Nava Thompson replied:
Deb--thank you! I really appreciate the 'surprise visit' and your great comments and fave and vote!
Nava Jo Thompson
Nadine and Bob--thank you for the feature of 'Flying Great Blue Heron' in 'USA Artist News'!
Mary McAvoy
Wonderful shot, Nava Jo. I love the betwixt and between of the body of the bird - against the tree reflection and the reflection of sky in the water.
Nava Jo Thompson
Darren--thank you for the feature of 'Flying Great Blue Heron' in 3 A Day Gretting Cards for all occasions!
Nava Jo Thompson
Randy--thank you for featuring 'Flying Great Blue Heron' in 'Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery' ! Always appreciate your support.
Randy Rosenberger
Totally awesome "in flight" capture of this beautiful great blue heron, Nava Jo! Love the avian details and movement, and the reflection of the sky in the water is awesome! Congrats on a very well deserved sale! Got my fave and vote and FB, and Tweet, and g+1 on this masterpiece of captured natural beauty!
Nava Thompson replied:
Randy--you always say things that make me go back and look again at my own work. Thank you for taking all the time you do for evenyone--and for the fave/vote/fb/tweet/and g 1!! :)
Teresa McGill
Congratulations on your sale. Beautiful shot of one of my favorite birds to try to photograph.
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