Appearance

These birds are native to most of North and Central America. Adults are approximately 1 m high and their necks usually outstretched. Herons weigh near 2.5 kg. As a rule, they create an impression of being tall and very thin, everything (wings, bill, legs, and even neck) are very long. What I like the most about herons – their walking and flying (while in flight, the neck is doubled back). There are 5 species of herons, the only one difference is in plumage and size.

Articulation and habitat

Frankly speaking, Blue Herons are not very vocal birds. There is a general set of sounds, for example, telling about danger or approaching the nest, but not more than that. Great Blue Herons nest on islands or in wooded swamps, actually, it is not a whim, it is a kind of protection from mammals and snakes. They can nest both alone or in colonies.

Feeding

The Great Blue Heron feeds in calm freshwater and along seacoasts. Small fish considered to be their main source of food. Sometimes, they also eat shellfish, various rodents, insects, frogs, and even small birds. The fishing techniques are very interesting to view. At the beginning a bird stand motionless, with its neck extended at an angle of about 45 degrees as to the water’s surface. It is incredible to enjoy its eyes and head looking for prey. When it notices a potential meal, the heron moves one leg forward and then immediately its body unbends, and its head dives into the water, so it catches the prey in its bill.

I bet a pardon, you can’t even imagine, that there can be such animals. It is difficult to believe what they can make and how to act. Follow their actions carefully!

The first one, as we can see, is a stork, a real stork, but a little bit black and so big.

The next one… To tell the truth, form the 1st sight, it is extremely difficult to identify its personality, but, after a closer expectation, we can perfectly understand that is is an elephant – a rather small one, and again so black.

Now, I can tell you, that we have a deal with a frog, again a very big frog, it is the biggest frog I have ever seen. Its colour is so dull and even gloomy. Just imagine what kind of a wart it will leave on you! It’s awful!

No doubts, they are really cool, yeah? Also, funny and do not need any care at all. So, did you like them? And, tell me, please, are they better than alive animals?

Most people DO believe that frogs are bad, they bring a lot of inconveniences and even warts. They live in marches and do nothing but spoiling our lives. But it is a disbelief, sometimes they can please our eyes.

Here we will talk about tropical frogs, they are colored, bright and draw attention every time you see them. Unfortunately, very often we spoil frogs lives much more often then they do. Some people even chase them. Very often we forget about our ecology, how drastic it is and feel no compassion to these small creatures, who are extremely vulnerable to any event occurring in the nature: climate, environmental conditions, urbanization. Many species became extinct, as they were not able to adopt to new living conditions. A lot of scientists, research establishments try to avoid this process and stop its development.

As an example, let’s take Dendrobatidae or commonly known as Dart-poison frogs, they live in American tropics and suffer from deforestation. Nowadays, there exist not more than 100 species of them, but these frogs are not capable of living under other natural conditions. One can say, they deserve dying! But it is unfair! These frogs are of great help to medicine. Yeah, no doubts, since the time immemorial, they have been producing a very toxic poison, small portion of this poison (not more than 1 or 2 usual salt grains) is enough to kill a person. Also, this poison was used by Indians to make poisonous arrows and to kill enemies. But, as scientist started studying them, they found out invaluable information about ingredients of their poison and about membrane functioning, because poison of some frogs strikes directly the membrane of a person and provokes apoplexy. Poison of some species can  kill 800 people.

Bodies of these frogs are covered with special liquid poison – it kills small insects and animals. But, 136 micro grams of this poison can kill a person. All poisonous frogs have bright colored appearances! WHY? Because in such a way they warn predators – don’t touch us, it can end awfully. So, it is a kind of protective-warning coloring.

Interesting fact! These frogs are not poisonous in captivity (zoos, research areas). Scientist can explain it as they don’t eat special insects, which provoke the producing of poison. The most dangerous frog in this family is a Golden Poison Dart Frog.