Naturally Blue Set by Art LaMay

Naturally Blue Set ( Great Blue Herons )

Naturally Blue Set ( Two Prints )
by Art LaMay
31" by 17" each
Framed Size 41" by 27"

Conservation Framing
Each double mat may vary from print to print according to which frame you choose. If you would like to
have a particular color of mat just email sales@watsonswildlife.com to place your order. The best matching color is used for
each individual print and is not always the color shown here.

Each print is framed using Conservation Acid Free & Lignin Free, Alkaline pH buffered matboard & backing.
In conservation framing, We use only Museum Quality materials and procedures that will have no adverse
effects on a piece of artwork and will protect the artwork from external damage.

Standing about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall with a wingspan of about six feet (1.8 meters), the Great Blue Heron is one of B.C.'s tallest native birds. However, they weigh only about 5-6 pounds (2.5 Kg). Adults have a bluish grey body with white crown and face but a black fedora on its head. Plumy feathers called aigrettes on their chest and back and a black patch on each shoulder complete their stately outfit.

Herons belong to the order Ciconiiforme, which are wading birds who have long legs, neck and bills, broad rounded wings and short tail. Members of the Ardeidaeis family share characteristics with other herons and bitterns: straight bills, slow flight and tucked neck. They can be told apart from similar-looking but not related crane order because a special vertebra in the front of their neck (looks like an adams apple) allows them to tuck their neck in an S-shape in flight and move their head head quickly forward while feeding. Cranes fly with their neck outstretched.

Herons are solitary birds who feed by standing still in shallow water or long grass. They watch for movement of prey, then slowly lower their heads, to within striking distance. They are patient and wait for the right time, then they rapidly strike and imperil prey on their sharp beak. Fish, frogs and voles are flipped so they are swallowed head first. They have very good vision, particularly in good low light conditions. Sometimes heron will catch a fish that are too large for them to eat and will simply leave it behind for other predators and scavengers such as mink or eagles to eat.

Males arrive early in the spring (about March) and choose a nest. The females arrive later and are selected by the males and nest repair begins. One courtship study found that 14 physical behaviors and 7 to 9 vocalizations were specifically connected with pair bonding. Males choose a new mate each spring.

Each pair lays about 4 pale blue duck-sized eggs which the adults take turns incubating for about 28 days. Once the young hatch, the search for food begins and intensifies as the growing young need more food each day.

Young grow quickly and within a few weeks are already testing their wings. From the time they are laid to the time they learn to fly, only about 50 percent will survive due to competition for food and predation by red-tailed hawks, ravens, bald eagles, and raccoons. In about 6 weeks the young are as large as the adults.
©Thanks to Ann Eissinger and naturepark.com

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