Great Blue Heron at first light

Great blue herons hunt by standing motionless in shallow water and striking in a fraction of a second. This one held its pose for nearly ten minutes while the sun came up behind the cattails.

Why it matters

Herons are a good indicator of wetland health: they need clean water, abundant fish, and undisturbed nesting trees. Cornell’s All About Birds (opens in a new tab) has more on their range and behavior.

Getting the shot

I lay flat on the boardwalk to get the lens at water level, which turned the marsh into a wash of gold instead of a cluttered background.