The real Heron
Aircraft and birds have different aspect ratio wings depending on their mission. You can tell an Vans from a sailplane with ease.
Speedy stooping birds of prey have the full tapered speed thing like a DH88, whereas loitering, ground covering, thermalling ground-feeding birds like buzzards have low aspect ratio untapered wing forms with airflow management at the tips.
So what part of the performance requirement of the heron presently taking fish out of my garden pond requires such big, thermalling wings like a condor? All it does is either stand rock still to fish or flap heavily to land two fields away when waved off. And what's it going to feed on in an English arable field anyway?
Any ppruners happen to know why they are configured like this?
regards
HnH