Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
The habitat of the Great Blue Heron is typically in marshes, swamps, shores and tide flats. Forages mostly by standing still or walking very slowly in shallow water, waiting for fish to swim near, then striking with rapid thrust of bill. Also forages on shore, from floating objects, and in grassland. May hunt by day or night. Nests in trees or shrubs near water, sometimes on ground in areas free of predators. (Audubon Guide to North American Birds)
Great blue herons’ size (3.2 to 4.5 feet/1 to 1.4 meters) and wide wingspan (5.5 to 6.6 feet/1.7 to 2 meters) make them a joy to see in flight. They can cruise at some 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 kilometers) an hour. Though great blue herons hunt alone, they typically nest in colonies. (animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/great-blue-heron)
The Way 