Heron

Wading silently through the shallow waters of Southern Africa's rivers, dams, and marshes, herons are the patient and graceful fishermen of the bird world. These tall, elegant birds are masters of stillness, often standing like feathered statues for so long that you might miss them completely! With their long, sharp beaks that work like speedy spears and their impossibly long legs for wading, they are perfectly designed to hunt. In a flash of movement too fast to see, a heron will strike, catching a fish, a frog, or even a unlucky dragonfly for its lunch.

From the huge, grey Goliath Heron to the secretive, night-feeding Black-crowned Night-Heron, these amazing birds are a beautiful and important part of the wild waterways.