I need some help identifying a GBHE which accosted me recently while I was attempting to pick paw-paws near a creek. The Heron, apparently offended by the shaking of trees necessary to gather paw-paws, attacked me mostly by kicking me in a startling but largely ineffectual manner. The kicks were too graceful for a Gross Blue Heron, but a Gorgeted Heron would surely be better armed. Racial profiling is rampant in my area and I am reluctant to report the incident without all my details in order.
note: the events of this ask are not fictional and i am willing to pay for assistance in the form of paw-paws
I would first like to congratulate your keen instincts! Bribing me with fresh in-season fruit is in fact the ideal way to expedite any and all inquiries here at The Academy of Bird Sciences. Please get in touch with me for shipping details.
That said, youโve not given me a lot to work with for this identification! The azure ardeids are incredibly diverse, comprising something like one out of every four in the Family as a whole. Photos go a LONG way towards helping differentiate species. If you donโt have easy access to a camera, a short essay of about one kiloword is commonly accepted as equivalent.
Now that Iโve got all of the disclaimers and administrivia out of the way, I am of a mind to say you encountered a juvenile Guerrillous Blue Heron (which must never ever be confused with the much better-tempered Garrulous Blue Heron). Because youโve promised me fresh fruit, Iโll push back the other birds I had on slate this week and do a quick writeup for you.
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