Great Blue Heron – St Marks National Wildlife Refuge
The aging plumes of a Preening Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias give the bird a shaggy appearance. "Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray. The herons comb this ‘powder down’ with a fringed claw on their middle toes, using the down like a washcloth to remove fish slime and other oils from their feathers as they preen. Applying the powder to their underparts protects their feathers against the slime and oils of swamps."1
focal length: 400mm | exposure: f/5 – 1/2500th second – ISO 500
