#55 - Heron

While walking around at Waterfront Park in Louisville yesterday, I got an awesome picture of a modern day Pterodactyl! Ok, it's actually called a heron but I'm pretty sure it's a mini pterodactyl. I'm pretty proud of this awesome picture. :)

Some strange facts about mini pterodactyls  herons:

1) Herons are often mistaken for cranes and vice versa. In fact, I thought the bird I photographed was a crane but learned it's a heron while looking up info to blog about it.

2) Heron are located on all continents except Antarctica.

3) Herons don't have webbed feet like many birds.  They have four toes per foot. Three of the toes point forward and one points backward. This gives them a little stability and also let's the grip things. 

4) Herons have been known to choke to death from trying to swallow fish too big to fit down their throats. 

5) Herons can live up to 15 years in the wild.

6) The feathers down the back of the heron's head are called plumbs and are important in attracting mates. 

7) Roast herons were a popular food at medieval banquets.

8) The fat of a heron killed at midnight was once believed to cure rheumatism. 

9) Herons have a specially shaped clam on their third toe for combing their feathers.

10) Herons sometimes visit decorative pounds and steal the goldfish! hahaha!