#530 In the field: Brookgreen Gardens aviary, Great Blue Heron, con't . . .

Start this series with  #522,  April 16, 2014.  http://www.brookgreen.org/
http://www.brookgreenworkshops.com

The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird and is common over most of North America.

I frequently see them on my pond in Wyoming but in the western high country, they are migratory.
The big birds are so hardy that as long as water remains unfrozen, they will be in residence.

Below, the Great Blue Heron usually nests in trees and while at Brookgreen  

 I photographed this bird building a nest high in a tree in the aviary.

Below, are drawings created in the cedar swamp aviary.

Below, are close-up reference photos that will be useful in the studio.

 I took over 3,000 digital images in the aviary last month and  created many drawings as well.      
The experience was unforgettable and I'm excited about getting to work with the material I gathered while observing the creatures at one of the most beautiful places on earth:  Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina's Lowcountry!

Below, are images of a recent sculpture entitled:  "Nesting Heron".

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Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish