The Great Blue Heron is the best known and most widespread heron in North America. It stands 42 to 52 inches tall and its wingspread can be as great as seven feet. Both males and females look alike with males being slightly larger. These large herons are found in fresh as well as salt water and spend considerable time ashore where they can be seen perched in trees. The great Blue Heron's diet consists of a wide variety of prey including fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, eels, crabs, rodents and insects.

This bird of shallow water is a lone hunter whose aggressive self-determintion and self-reliance is its message. It waits motionless or uses a slow stalking stride while hunting. When it spies its prey, it spears the victim using its sharp beak with lightning speed. If we observe and pay attention, this marsh bird will teach us the lesson of taking decisive action as opportunity arises.