Great Egret (Ardea alba) ORDER: Pelecaniformes FAMILY: Ardeidae

Emigrant Lake - Jackson County - Oregon - USA

Habitat : Marshes
Food : Fish
Nesting : Tree
Behavior : Stalking
Conservation : Low Concern

"The elegant Great Egret is a dazzling sight in many a North American wetland. Slightly smaller and more svelte than a Great Blue Heron, these are still large birds with impressive wingspans. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill. Great Egrets were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century, sparking conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds... Great Egrets fly slowly but powerfully: with just two wingbeats per second their cruising speed is around 25 miles an hour."
Source : Cornell University Lab of Ornithology

Tags:   Great Egret Ardea alba Pelecaniformes Ardeidae Emigrant Lake Jackson County Oregon USA Mark Heatherington

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Emigrant Lake - Jackson County - Oregon - USA

"Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This stately heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage often stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades belly deep with long, deliberate steps. They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher. In flight, look for this widespread heron’s tucked-in neck and long legs trailing out behind..... 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."
- Cornell University Lab of Ornithology

Tags:   Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Emigrant Lake Jackson County Oregon USA Mark Heatherington

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It took me a while to figure out why they would be in pastures miles from a lake. Turns out they love Gophers as well.

Emigrant Creek Road - Jackson County - Oregon - USA

"Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This stately heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage often stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades belly deep with long, deliberate steps. They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher. In flight, look for this widespread heron’s tucked-in neck and long legs trailing out behind..... 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."
- Cornell University Lab of Ornithology

Tags:   Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Emigrant Creek Road Rogue Valley Jackson County Oregon USA Mark Heatherington Heron Bird Wildlife

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Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Hyatt Lake - Jackson County - Oregon - USA

"Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This stately heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage often stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades belly deep with long, deliberate steps. They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher. In flight, look for this widespread heron’s tucked-in neck and long legs trailing out behind..... 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."
- Cornell University Lab of Ornithology

Tags:   2048 Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Heron Bird Nature Wildlife Hyatt Lake Jackson County Oregon USA Mark Heatherington Cascade Mountains

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