A close-up shot captures the head of a Great Blue Heron, one of North America’s largest and most striking wading birds, moments before it flew off from the bow of our small boat. These herons are skilled hunters, often standing perfectly still or moving slowly in shallow water to catch fish, amphibians, and small mammals with their sharp, spear-like bills. Their keen eyesight and long necks allow them to strike with remarkable speed and precision, while their muted blue-gray plumage provides excellent camouflage in marshes, estuaries, and coastal environments. Great Blue Herons are also known for their slow, deliberate wingbeats in flight and their territorial nesting colonies, often called heronries, where they gather in large numbers to breed and raise young. One of the largest nesting colonies in the state of Alaska is near the park’s headquarters in Bartlett Cove. Photographer: Sean Neilson