Here Fishy Fishy
by Nava Thompson
Title
Here Fishy Fishy
Artist
Nava Thompson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A photo taken by Nava JoThompson of a Great Blue Heron fishing in Arkansas.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).....The heron stride is around 22 cm (9 in), almost in a straight line. Two of the three front toes are generally closer together. In a track the front toes as well as the back often show the small talons......The subspecies differ only slightly in size and plumage tone, with the exception of subspecies occidentalis, which as well as normal colored birds, also has a distinct white morph, known as the Great White Heron (not to be confused with the Great Egret, for which "Great White Heron" was once a common name). It is found only in south Florida and some parts of the Caribbean. The Great White Heron differs from other Great Blues in bill morphology, head plume length, and in having a total lack of pigment in its plumage. This is mainly found near salt water, and was long thought to be a separate species. Birds intermediate between the normal morph and the white morph are known as W�nn's Heron; these birds resemble a "normal" Great Blue with a white head......The theory that Great White Heron may be a separate species (A. occidentalis) from Great Blue Heron has again been given some support by David Sibley.......The call is a harsh croak. The heron is most vocal during the breeding season, but will call occasionally at any time of the year in territorial disputes or if disturbed...... Great Blue Heron, silhouette of in flight bird.The "Great White Heron" could be confused with Great Egret but is larger, with yellow legs as opposed to the Great Egret's black legs. The Reddish Egret and Little Blue Heron could be mistaken for the Great Blue Heron, but are much smaller, and lack white on the head and yellow in the bill. In the southern reaches of its range, the Great Blue sometimes overlaps in range with the closely related and similarly sized Cocoi Heron. The Cocoi is distinguished by a striking white neck and solid black crown, but the duller juveniles are more easily confused. More superficially similar is the slightly smaller Grey Heron, which may sometimes vagrate to the Northern coasts of North America. The Grey (which occupies the same ecological niche in Eurasia as the Great Blue Heron) has very similar plumage but has a solidly soft-gray neck. Erroneously, the Great Blue Heron is sometimes referred to as a "crane".......Flying with nesting material in Illinois, USAThe Great Blue Heron is found throughout most of North America, as far north as Alaska and the southern Canadian provinces. The range extends south through Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean to South America. Birds east of the Rocky Mountains in the northern part of their range are migratory and winter in Central America or northern South America. From the southern United States southwards, and on the Pacific coast, they are year-round residents..... However their hardiness is such that individuals often remain through cold northern winters, as well......The Great Blue Heron can adapt to almost any wetland habitat in its range. They may be found in numbers in fresh and saltwater marshes, mangrove swamps, flooded meadows, lake edges, or shorelines. They are quite adaptable and may be seen in heavily developed areas as long as they hold bodies of water bearing fish. Great Blue Herons rarely venture far from bodies of water but are occasionally seen flying over upland areas. They usually nesting in trees or bushes near water's edge, often on island (which minimizes the potential for predation) or partially isolated spots......It has been recorded as a vagrant in England,[14] Greenland, Hawaii, and the Azores......Wading at Grande Lakes Audubon Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary Orlando, FLA.....On a slow-flying glide.The primary food for Great Blue Heron is small fish, though it is also known to opportunistically feed on a wide range of shrimp, crabs, aquatic insects, rodents and other small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and small birds. Herons locate their food by sight and usually swallow it whole. Herons have been known to choke on prey that is too large......It is generally a solitary feeder. Individuals usually forage while standing in water, but will also feed in fields or drop from the air, or a perch, into water. mice are occasionally predated in upland areas far from the species typical aquatic environment.[13] Occasionally loose feeding flocks may form and may be beneficial since they are able to locate school of fish more easily.[13] As large wading birds, Great Blue Herons are capable of feeding in deeper waters, and thus are able to harvest from niche areas not open to most other heron species.....Typically, the Great Blue Heron feeds in shallow waters, usually less than 50 cm (20 in) deep,[13] or at the water's edge during both the night and the day, but especially around dawn and dusk. The most commonly employed hunting technique of the species is that it wades slowly with its long legs through shallow water, and quickly spears fish or frogs with its long, sharp bill. Although usually ponderous in movements, the Great Blue Heron is surprisingly adaptable in its fishing methods. Feeding behaviors variably have consisted of standing in one place, probing, pecking, walking at slow speeds, moving quickly, flying short distances and alighting, hovering over water and picking up prey, diving headfirst into the water, alighting on water feet-first, jumping from perches feet-first, and swimming or floating on the surface of the water.
Uploaded
March 13th, 2013
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Viewed 366 Times - Last Visitor from Ann Arbor, MI on 03/28/2024 at 6:52 PM
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Comments (44)
Bonnie Willis
Very nice. I love the way the sunlights up the edges of the beak and breast of the egret as if early morning or late evening. V/F
Doug Kreuger
Natural or otherwise, the radiant turquoise color reflected in the water is especially spectacular!— perfectly harmonizing with the colors of the feathers, while wonderfully complementing the birds long bill. Great composition capture—Love It! F&V
Nava Thompson replied:
Doug---thank you very much for the comments and observation of details--appreciate the f/v!
Kathy Braud
Am revisiting your egret, Nava Jo - love the illumination! the textured background and the linear breast and back feathers, light against dark and the wonderful color in the grays. I had already voted before, will promote in another venue. Love your nature photos, girl! fav/SU
Nava Thompson replied:
Wow Kathy--I appreciate your uplifting comments--and it came at a moment I was needing a boost. Thank you for your support and the fave/SU!
Randy Rosenberger
Thanks for your great submission of this beautiful piece of artwork, as it is a true honor to FEATURE this quality of work on our HOMEPAGE! Love this style of work and am very pleased and honored to be able to promote your artwork on our site! Love this beautiful example of your prowess in your work! Fave and Vote FOREVER, ELVIS
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you Randy for your comments--encouragement and featuring ' Here Fishy Fishy'!
Nava Jo Thompson
Randy---thank you!! I love that your are featuring 'Here Fishy Fishy' in 'Wisconsin Flowers' and Scenery group!
Hanne Lore Koehler
Spectacular shot, Nava Jo!!! Amazing light and detail! Love your caption, too! v/f/t/g+
Nava Thompson replied:
Hanne--thank you so much--for the comments and all the support with the v/f/t/g !