It took patience and determination to get close and stay there as this apparently young great blue heron hunted for about 30 minutes without snagging a fish.
But, I had to feel admiration for him as I realized that it took MORE patience and determination to BE that young heron and keep trying to snag a fish.
Great Blues are our largest herons (they’re “great”), but they’re considered to be a “Species of Special Concern” by Maine wildlife officials. That’s primarily because their coastal breeding populations have shown significant declines in recent years.
This loss appears to be at least partly due to a significant increase in predatory Bald Eagles and proprietary human beings deciding to reside along the coast.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on June 6, 2024; sex and age estimated.)