| | Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodius)
The Great Blue Heron is a tall, gray bird with a daggerlike bill. In flight, its folded neck indicates a heron. This is the most widespread heron throughout North America and it ranges from Canada to Mexico and the Caribbean. Great blue herons occur in Florida year-round. They are found along calm freshwater and sea coasts. They nest in colonies with other wading birds. These colonies are known as rookeries. Wading birds build their nests in shrubs and trees over water. They typically lay 2-6 eggs. Their diet consists mainly of fish, invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles, but can include other birds, and small mammals. When feeding, they walk slowly, stalking their prey before stabbing it with a quick lunge of their bill.
Great blue heron populations have remained strong throughout history. No population is considered threatened, but the species is vulnerable to loss of wetlands. |
|