I've finally posted the photos I got of him while I was on the island. I've just chosen seven that give you the best views and I was lucky enough to get fairly close, even though you know my camera leaves something to be desired.

If you are squeamish, DO NOT GO LOOK. It looks awful. But it is an old injury and awful as it looks it does not seem to cause him any pain or suffering. He walks around, flaps the other wing, wades, and fishes. The wound on his shoulder is small and dry. The injured wing is barely hanging on by a strip of either muscle, tendon, or skin and is nearly skeletal at this point.

Actually, he is a testament to survival against the odds.

Injured Blue Heron photos

He is sort of a next door neighbor of mine, so I'll let you know how he's doing as often as I do see him.

In fact, I have a bit of a theory as to why we have not seen him before. First, if you see him from the good side, or in deepish water, you might not notice he is injured at all.

Second, (on a positive note) when Great Blue Herons have nestlings, the male fishes during the day and sits on the nest at night. The female fishes at night, and sits on the nest during the day. While on the island, I upset and flushed three young Great Blue Herons - just about at the "look ma, I can fly" age. I am wondering if the injured bird is a "she" not "he" and has been sitting on a nest in the daytime, hidden in the brush in the center of the island, and coming down to fish at night - when I would not see her. Only now, with the fledgelings on their own, would she begin to fish during the day. Just a thought.

Good birding!