When my eldest son was little he used to call herons 'sword birds.' The bill certainly could be likened to a sword and I wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of it.
That is a super great shot. We love seeing them around here also. In upper Wisconsin we a few Huron rookeries where they nest this time of year. They actually kill the trees they nest in because their poo is so acidic. http://www.devilslakewisconsin.com/heron-rookery-at-devils-lake/ There is also a rookery at Cathedral Pines in Wisconsin. We have been to the rookery at Cathedral Pines. It was so fun to see the nests and listen to the ruckus the young birds make for food.
