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Description
Shot at Avila Beach, Central Coast of California

The great blue heron lives in and around salt and freshwater environments. Four subspecies exist in the world and all occur in North America.
How long do they live? Sixty-nine percent of new born great blue herons die in their first year, two of the oldest known have lived 23 years.
How fast can they fly? Two separate studies measured a cruising speed between 19 and 29 miles per hour.
The great blue heron hunts for fish by day as well as by night and employs two methods, "Standing" and "Walking Slowly." When "Standing" it will stand motionless in a shallow pool of water, waiting patiently until a fish comes close enough to pluck from the water. When "Walking Slowly" it carefully treads its way through the water, keeping its neck stretched outward and forward. If it catches a small fish it will immediately swallow it. If the fish is too large the heron will take it onto the shore, kill it first by beating it into the ground, then pick it apart by biting off bits and pieces.

Description
Shot at Avila Beach, Central Coast of California

The great blue heron lives in and around salt and freshwater environments. Four subspecies exist in the world and all occur in North America.
How long do they live? Sixty-nine percent of new born great blue herons die in their first year, two of the oldest known have lived 23 years.
How fast can they fly? Two separate studies measured a cruising speed between 19 and 29 miles per hour.
The great blue heron hunts for fish by day as well as by night and employs two methods, "Standing" and "Walking Slowly." When "Standing" it will stand motionless in a shallow pool of water, waiting patiently until a fish comes close enough to pluck from the water. When "Walking Slowly" it carefully treads its way through the water, keeping its neck stretched outward and forward. If it catches a small fish it will immediately swallow it. If the fish is too large the heron will take it onto the shore, kill it first by beating it into the ground, then pick it apart by biting off bits and pieces.