Laughing heron

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Laughing heron

August 28, 2013 by Mike Powell

Do Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) have a sense of humor? What would prompt one to burst out in laughter?

Maybe one of the many turtles surrounding the heron’s feet decided to tickle them. (Click on the photo to get a better look at the turtles).

Perhaps he is preparing for an audition for the reality television show America’s Got Talent. What’s his talent? Judging from his appearance, I’d say this heron might have a future as a stand-up comic. I might have captured hims as he was trying out new material on the turtles, which are notoriously tough as judges—you have to be really funny to be able to penetrate those thick shells.

Posted in Birds, Humor, Nature, Photography, Reptiles, Winter | Tagged Alexandria VA, Ardea herodias, Canon 50D, Great Blue Heron, Huntley Meadows Park, laughing, Sigma 135-400mm telephoto zoom lens, turtles | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on August 28, 2013 at 6:19 am | Reply Nightmare Logic

Just to let you know that I have nominated you for 4 awards: http://nightmarelogic.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/some-awards-and-some-nominees/ No worries either way – just showing my appreciation!
- on August 28, 2013 at 6:27 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks for the kind thoughts in making the nominations. For the moment, I am not really comfortable in meeting the requirements for most awards, though I definitely appreciate your desire to show your appreciation.
  - on August 28, 2013 at 6:30 am Nightmare Logic
    
    I quite understand – I do hope some more people discover your wonderful photos!
on August 28, 2013 at 6:26 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

He does look like he’s laughing. I guess the turtles weren’t the snapping variety.I never get tired of seeing these birds.
on August 28, 2013 at 6:32 am | Reply Ed

I think it began 2 frogs walk into a bar…. 😉
Great shot..
- on August 28, 2013 at 6:39 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ed. In one part of his act, he talks about his romantic life and launches into a song, “Egrets, I’ve had a few, but then again too few to mention…”
on August 28, 2013 at 6:34 am | Reply thisisnotbangkok

nice capture and unique
- on August 28, 2013 at 6:37 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  He might have been merely yawning, but I think it is more fun to think of the heron laughing.
  - on August 28, 2013 at 7:06 am thisisnotbangkok
    
    Right–as you probably know about my own photos, the title often sets the tone of the whole picture :-
on August 28, 2013 at 8:24 am | Reply Sue

Or perhaps vocalizing, but I guess you would have heard that.
- on August 28, 2013 at 7:14 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I sometimes hear herons squawking when chasing each other, but in this case it was silent. It looked like it was yawning (do herons yawn), but it was more fun to posit that it was laughing.
on August 28, 2013 at 10:24 pm | Reply Charlie@Seattle trekker

Great Blue Herons are such fun…love the photograph and the candid moment you captured.