Cooling Down
This Great Blue Heron is regulating body temperature by a process called gular fluttering. Gular means throat tissues, and the heron vibrates them as a way to cool down. As he vibrates the throat tissues his tongue darts in and out, similar to a dog panting. His tongue is visible in this shot. This technique is used by many birds, including herons, pelicans, and cormorants as a way to regulate body temperature. This one was doing a bit of preening as he cooled down. Wildwood Park, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Cooling Down
This Great Blue Heron is regulating body temperature by a process called gular fluttering. Gular means throat tissues, and the heron vibrates them as a way to cool down. As he vibrates the throat tissues his tongue darts in and out, similar to a dog panting. His tongue is visible in this shot. This technique is used by many birds, including herons, pelicans, and cormorants as a way to regulate body temperature. This one was doing a bit of preening as he cooled down. Wildwood Park, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.