by Contributor on Monday July 26 2021 Story by Nicole Trigg, Kootenay Conservation Program To many in the Kootenays, catching sight of a Great Blue Heron is a special experience. Whether you’re standing at a river’s edge, or on the shoreline of a lake, it’s a treat to spot one nearby, either standing peacefully in the shallow water or gracefully flying by overhead. When you do, it is reason to pause and notice their long legs, broad wings and outstretched necks. Great Blue Herons are very large, elegant-looking birds that grow to over a metre in height. Their size combined with their simple yet bold colouring (blue-grey body feathers, white neck plumes and head, with prominent black eye stripe and yellow bill) make for an arresting image. It’s no wonder they’re considered the iconic species of wetland ecosystems.