Last week I watched as a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) slowly flew across the sky and perched high in a tree in the middle of the woods. The perch seemed precarious and the heron’s position did not appear to be at all comfortable. I honestly don’t know how the heron managed to land amidst all of the small branches—it required precision flying for the heron to pull in its wide wings at precisely the right moment as it decelerated.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
These great birds amaze me, Mike. They seem to have an absolute knowledge of where each part of their bodies are along with every thing around them. To think how many humans can’t parallel park.
I too am amazed, Dan. As for spatial awareness, every time that I travel, I am amazed by the number of people who seem to be unaware that wearing a backpack makes then bigger. As for parallel parking, I sometimes wonder if they still teach that anymore.
When we first stared seeing hawks around here, we realized it was because they had cleared more “forest” land nearby. I was amazed to read that the hawks like to hunt in the trees. How anything could fly through the branches and spot other birds or small animals on the ground, AND figure out how to strike – I can’t fathom the eyesight required.
It isn’t even parallel parking, Mike. I’ve seen people literally move into my lane to avoid a parked car on their side. First off, they should wait for me. Second, they pass the parked car with about 6 feet of clearance!
Nice Mike! It is amazing how they seem to be able to navigate and land on those branches!
Oh that the Lord would give us the same grace! Precision flying and landing amidst camouflage when needed. I just love this shot and your comments!
Looks like a real flying challenge to get out of there.
Wow!
Wow, that is quite amazing, isn’t it? Their wingspan is so huge. Did you happen to see him take off from this perch, also?
No. The heron was still up in the tree when I continued on in another direction and I did not see it take off.