During the winter this Great Blue Heron would normally be in southern climates spanning all the way to South America. For whatever reason he did not make the journey with his comrades this Winter. Most likely he was either injured or too old to make the trip. I used to see him every morning while driving to work in this very same spot. A few weeks after taking this picture when the temperature dropped to -9 I saw that he passed away at this very same spot. His body lay lifeless on the ice. There was a waterfall very close to where this champion was standing and for some reason there was always an opening at this spot. Perhaps this Great Blue Heron maintained that opening. It wouldn't surprise me. I have lived in the Livonia Michigan area all of my life and the temperatures this true fighter had to endure were unusually severe. I really believe he would have made it if not for the extreme cold.