Great Blue Heron
I’m not always happy to see the Great Blue Heron but they are pretty amazing birds.
Latin name: Ardea herodias
Length, wingspan: 46″, 72″
What they eat: Fish, frogs, snakes, lizards, insects, small mammals, other birds
Habitat: Freshwater (ponds, lakes) and saltwater areas. Grasslands, fields.
What attracts them:Â Mostly ponds
Where they nest: In trees, on the ground, or on nest platforms
My observations: The reason I’ve added the Great Blue Heron to my list is because they are quite drawn to our pond. It just happens to be filled with fish, the occasional frog, and an interesting assortment of insects. Even though I’ve considered them to be my nemesis, the Great Blue Heron is a gorgeous bird. To be honest, I’d certainly rather see them in other locations! When they fly in, or when they take off, they remind me of a B-52. They are HUGE. Much as they’re cool to see, the best way to keep them away from my pond is a heron decoy. Apparently, these herons are quite territorial. Let’s say they’re making an approach to a pond. If they see what appears to be another heron already there, they will move on. We purchased a heron decoy many years ago and it has worked amazingly well. Our decoy, which cost about $40, needs a new paint job but the real herons don’t seem to notice that!
For more details about this bird, go to Cornell’s All About Birds website.