Denise Kitagawa – Vermilion Lakes

One morning in early June 2023, we watched three Great Blue Herons at Vermilion Lakes. This particular heron landed about 75 meters away. We watched it as it listened, carefully moved through the tall grass and then drove its head down into the water, emerging with a sucker fish. It turned and walked about 15 meters back through the grasses and then maneuvered the fish into its bill, swallowing in one gulp. We watched the fish distort the heron’s neck as it travelled down to the stomach. The heron gave one great shake to help it down. It was a nature moment that I’ll never forget.