Taller than our 2 year old granddaughter and almost as tall as our 4 year old grandson, Anne and I frequently see this connoisseur of shrimp, fish, lizards, frogs and even small mammals along the edge of Lake Tsala Apopka. Don’t be fooled by the great blue heron’s statuesque appearance. It is capable of striking at lightning speed to snatch a fish from the water with its dagger-like bill. Unlike the white ibis that forages in groups, the great blue heron hunts alone and will even defend its feeding ground from other herons. Yet this heron will nest in rookeries with other herons in wetlands. Next time you visit a lake or wetland area (including salt water wetlands) look for these large birds along the water’s edge hunting for its next meal.