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Overview
Great Blue Herons (Ardea Herodias) are the largest of the North American herons with long legs, a sinuous neck, and thick, daggerlike bill. These herons stand like statue stalking fish and other prey in shallow water or open fields. They can be found in saltwater and freshwater habitats, from open coasts, marshes, sloughs, riverbanks, and lakes to backyard goldfish ponds.
Appearance
Gray with a light azure blue flight feathers
They have long plume-like feathers on lower neck
Dull yellowish bill, becoming orange at start of breeding season
About 91-137 cm in length and 1.8-3.6 kg in weight
Mating Behavior
Great blue herons are monogamous during the breeding season, choosing a new mate each year. Males perform courtship displays to attract females. Breeding occurs from March to May in the north and November to April in the south. They nest in colonies near wetlands, with 3 to 7 eggs laid and both parents sharing in incubation. Chicks fledge at about 10 weeks old and become mature at 22 months.
Fun Facts
Heron chicks are born with grey eyes which later turn bright yellow as adults.
They can swallow fish that are much wider than their narrow neck.
Great blue herons spend the majority of their waking hours hunting for food.
The feathers on a Great Blue Heron's Chest are specialized and continually grow and fray, resembling a powdery down.
Why Monitor Great Blue Heron?
We should monitor Great blue heron because they are more than just a large bird. They are good indicators of ecological health including levels of toxins, habitat connectivity, and abundance of prey species.
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