I give blue herons a wide berth.
I absolutely love these birds as they grace the area.
With a pterodactyl-like call during huge sweeping flight paths, patience in hunting, sadistic way it plays with its prey, its comfort in sunbathing with its wings out to the sides(making it look like arms out) facing the sun...
Also, to see two blue Herons fight is amazing. Imagine 2 practitioners of Praying Mantis kungfu and you can begin to see how they hop around each other, one parrying the other dodging and countering, single wing flaps producing elevated attacks all in proximity of each other. Very much like an orchestrated ballet.
I can see why, even during mute swan mating season and nesting period, they leave these blue kings well enough alone.
I live on a lake. Heron Lake. And yea those bad boys go after lots of things. Seen a few eating big (Yuge) catfish right on the dock. And they like to perch on the top point of the roof and watch the lake. Next thing you know there’s this dark shadow making a quick pass down and dinner is served.
I would not like to get anywhere near THAT beak. It’s a frick’n harpoon!