A couple of days ago I was sitting at my table in front of one of the large windows that look out onto Honeymoon Lake. I was reading William Gibson's All Tomorrow's Parties when one of these big graceful birds flew across the lake to alight on a tree that had been felled by a beaver some time ago. He hung out for over 30 minutes before flying off.

The State of Louisiana has always been my favourite portion of the Union, although Kentucky and some other States have divided my affections; but as we are on the banks of the fair Ohio, let us pause awhile, good reader, and watch the Heron. In my estimation, few of our waders are more interesting than the birds of this family. Their contours and movements are always graceful, if not elegant. Look on the one that stands near the margin of the pure stream:--see his reflection dipping as it were into the smooth water, the bottom of which it might reach had it not to contend with the numerous boughs of those magnificent trees. How calm, how silent, how grand is the scene! The tread of the tall bird himself no one hears, so carefully does he place his foot on the moist ground, cautiously suspending it for awhile at each step of his progress. Now his golden eye glances over the surrounding objects, in surveying which he takes advantage of the full stretch of his graceful neck. Satisfied that no danger is near, he lays his head on his shoulders, allows the feathers of his breast to droop, and patiently awaits the approach of his finned prey. You might imagine what you see to be the statue of a bird, so motionless is it. But now, he moves; he has taken a silent step, and with great care be advances; slowly does he raise his head from his shoulders, and now, what a sudden start! his formidable bill has transfixed a perch, which he beats to death on the ground. See with what difficulty be gulps it down his capacious throat! and now his broad wings open, and away be slowly flies to another station, or perhaps to avoid his unwelcome observers.
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Picture and text by John James Audubon

There are a number of these birds on Whidbey Island and we seem to have a pair nearby. They are about four feet high with a five foot wingspan. They only weigh about five pounds. They will fly across the lake, flapping and gliding, only about three feet off the water. Beautiful!

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias - Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias fannini
Great Blue Heron an indicator of wildlife sustainability in the Georgia Basin