A Majestic Sight
Great Blue Herons are the largest wading birds in the heron family. They have amazing wingspans of 77-82 inches and stand up to 52 inches tall. Despite their impressive size, Great Blue Herons weigh only 5 to 6 pounds thanks in part to their hollow bones—a feature all birds share. They exhibit distinctive grace as they fly through the air with a slow flapping of wings, but don’t be fooled. They can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher. This heron was photographed in Belmar Park in Lakewood by Park Hill resident Mark Silverstein.