A patient and clean hunter
A Great Blue Heron scans for prey in the waters of Lions Park in South Temple. Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray, according to the website All About Birds. The herons comb this “powder down” with a fringed claw on their middle toes, using the down like a washcloth to remove fish slime and other oils from their feathers as they preen. Applying the powder to their underparts protects their feathers against the slime and oils of swamps.
