Blue heron taking off sequence

Blue heron taking off and getting airborne sequence - Photo: Still Gravity.
The blue heron took off when we were approaching in the trail - License our images here.

Last week I captured this sequence of a blue heron taking off and getting airborne. Interesting how the big bird gets aerodynamic pushing the legs back. Then it pulls back the head holding the long neck in an "S" curve. They can reach a speed up to 55 kilometers per hour with relatively slow wing beats. The suggestion for the "S" curved neck points to center mass - check this article. 

A stilted heron labored up into the air and pounded down the river.
         
          John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men

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