Great Blue Heron

Description:

Foraging alone or in flocks, the great blue heron usually hunts by slowly wading or standing motionless in shallow water. Although fish form the bulk of its diet, it will also take amphibians, invertebrates, reptiles, mammals and birds. When prey is sighted, it rapidly thrusts its neck forward to snatch the hapless quarry within its bill, and then typically swallows it whole. As an alternative to walking or standing, it also occasionally exhibits a range of other foraging techniques that enable it to access deeper water where it is unable to wade. This includes hovering above the water, plunging beneath it, and simply swimming on the surface. Generally, the great blue heron nests in tall trees that are near to aquatic feeding areas, and are to some extent isolated from human disturbance (4). However, when trees are not available, it will also nest on the ground in areas free from predators, and in reeds, shrubs and mangroves. Although some nest singly, many breed in colonies, which vary in size depending on the amount of nearby foraging habitat. Mates and nest sites change from year to year, with the consequence that mate selection is a critical part of the yearly cycle. Usually the male secures a display site first, such as an old nest, before engaging in an elaborate courtship display that includes an impressive repertoire of stretching, snapping, twig shaking, crest raising, and circling flight. After forming a pair and mating, the female lays between two to seven pale blue eggs, which are then incubated by both parent birds for around 28 days. The young are fed regurgitated food and fledge the nest after around 60 days. The seasonal movements of the great blue heron is very much dependant on its location. Herons from north-central North America migrate south over winter, whilst those closer to the either coast are more variable in their movements, with some remaining year round in the same location.

Habitat:

Great blue herons always live near sources of water, including rivers, lake edges, marshes, saltwater seacoasts, and swamps. They usually nest in trees or bushes that stand near water, breeding at elevations of up to 1,500 m. They tend to avoid marine habitats along the east coast and instead live inland. (Ferguson, 1998) Habitat Regions: Temperate; Tropical; Freshwater Aquatic Biomes: Lakes and Ponds; Rivers and Streams; Coastal Wetlands: Marsh; Swamp Other Habitat Features: Riparian