Great Blue Heron in front of a cow – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/320, ISO 1600, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This morning I decided to share photos of a Great Blue Heron with a cow behind it that I photographed resting on a snag above the Bear River. I was driving to the auto tour route at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge when I spotted the heron. Because the heron was on the wrong side of my Jeep, I drove forward a bit then turned around and made my way back to the heron to capture the moment. These aren’t my best photos from yesterday but they do tell a story.
The sunlight hadn’t reached the Great Blue Heron though it had lit up the ranchlands behind and above the bird. By the time I focused on the heron a young cow was moving towards the west behind it. Those ranchlands glowed in the early morning light.
Great Blue Heron with a cow behind it – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/250, ISO 1600, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
As humans, we have changed this area.
We’ve made ranchlands out of the bottom of the ancient Lake Bonneville. We have altered the course of the Bear River. Upriver we have built dams and taken water out of the river that should be flowing through the marshes on the refuge and into the Great Salt Lake to quench the thirsts of a burgeoning, wasteful human population.
Plus, we have placed nonnative, methane-belching quadrupeds into this habitat whose wastes eventually filter into the Great Salt Lake which is already in serious trouble.
Have we done the best we could for this land? Personally, I don’t believe we have.
Yet, this Great Blue Heron persists, adapts, and continues to thrive along with many other birds and wildlife. Despite what we have done.
Those were my thoughts yesterday morning as I photographed this Great Blue Heron and this is the story behind my images of this bird.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Great Blue Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.
It used to be that a cow and a Great Blue Heron sharing space would be unusual– but now that so much wild undeveloped space is being taken for cattle, it’s tough to look at with any equanimity.
And a reminder that red meat isn’t a healthy diet choice longterm.
https://www.scripps.org/news_items/4258-is-red-meat-bad-for-you
Thank you. No we haven’t done as well as we could have. As we should have. And may well pay a high price for that neglect and abuse.
It sure shows the Blue Heron is blue down to her feet. Nice pictures.
On the ligher side. When I read the title in my email. I had to chuckle; I have watched Great Blues swallow some pretty large fish but thought a cow would be a bit much.
No, we haven’t done as well as we could have. But will (all/any) governments buy into the plan to make it right or will they skirt around the issue?? Love the Great Blue Heron shot.