ML639322601

Observation details

This juvenile great blue heron held this “delta wing” pose, sunbathing, for 5-10 minutes after preening, facing the sun with feathers on neck, breast and ventral area partially erect. It seems unlikely that this was for thermoregulation, as the air temperature was in the upper 70s with mostly clear sky and no wind, just about perfect. So, I’m thinking that this may be a way to deal with parasites, such as mites and lice.