It concerns me that this young Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) at my local marsh may be too tolerant of people and desensitized to the reality of genuine predators that could do it harm. I worry too about its ability to catch enough food to survive, especially if this is the same young heron that I observed during the fall striking in vain at leaves in the water.
On a cold, wet day this past week, the heron was hunkered down on a log not far from the boardwalk. Other than a few movements of its head as it watched me, the heron didn’t budge a bit as I snapped away and even stayed in place when a noisy group of people walked by us.
When I see this little heron, I try to get a few pictures and then move on, thankful for the photo opportunity, but not wanting to reinforce its comfort level with the presence of people.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
There’s a Great Blue like yours at a pond near here, though he seems to be a proficient hunter. The more I am around birds, the more I am also concerned about those who seem too comfortable around humans. Though I am beginning to question whether they identify between humans. I spent the day at a friend’s house in Virginia, and spent a good part of the day watching the Titmice, the Chickadees, and the Nuthatches busily foraging. I noticed that they would scatter pretty readily for myself and the other guests, but that when the owner came out, they didn’t seem to notice her. I wonder.
I worried about the juvenile heron I saw in the snow here earlier too, but he seems to have flown off to warmer waters. There are times when we just have to trust that nature knows what it is doing and will take care of its own.
I was wondering just yesterday about the same thing. Do you think that herons not easily spooked by people may have some selective advantage? I was thinking that they would not have to waste energy stores having to constantly take off and land, and can instead focus on fishing. It is worrying none the less.
I know that crows are capable of recognizing individual humans, not sure about other birds, but why not? We don’t all look alike (to ourselves, anyway), and they have good eyesight.
I hope the little heron figures out how to survive in a tough world.
It sounds like they’re not being harassed in any way and are comfortable in their surroundings.
That’s a fine balance sometimes. Hopefully it’s OK.
Somehow he looks a bit cold. Wonderful capture Mike, and he doesn’t seem too concerned with your presence.
If it was indeed the same one that you observed during the fall, then it seems likely that it’s getting enough to eat. On the other hand, it’s tempting to anthropomorphize and try to read its expression–which seems to indicate that it’s intensely pondering and wrestling with some deep thoughts, possibly to the momentary exclusion of whatever is going on around it. Hope that’s it!