Great Blue Heron

Description:

Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray. The herons comb this “powder down” with a fringed claw on their middle toes, using the down like a washcloth to remove fish slime and other oils from their feathers as they preen. Applying the powder to their underparts protects their feathers against the slime and oils of swamps. Great Blue Herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes that improve their night vision. Great Blue Herons eat nearly anything within striking distance, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects, and other birds.

Habitat:

Artificial freshwater marsh at Orlando Wetlands Park

Notes:

This heron was quite a bully. It flew in and jumped at the anhinga. The anhinga took to the water and the heron took its perch on the culvert