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Great Blue Heron

7 years ago

I live in Northern Colorado and have recently seen a Great Blue Heron hanging around behind our condos. It flew off a roof and circled a nature area and then my husband saw it in the drainage ditch. Is this common? I thought it weird that it was alone, as a lot of birds are nesting right now. Thank you!

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ZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado

7 years ago

Here is one of the herons I was talking about. This was when we had allowed the lake to dry out for several months in preparation for a RX burn of the cattails around it. Since it is now filled back up, I haven't noticed quite as many herons (or shorebirds, for that matter). The pickings aren't quite as easy I guess haha.

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Comments (8)

catherinet
7 years ago
I find it rare here (central Indiana) to ever see more than one blue heron at a time. Every once in a while I see 2 fly over. Once I saw 3. But usually, they seem to be solitary most of the time.
Donna R
7 years ago
I have them here, and you almost always see them alone. They do take care of the nests together, but one stays while the other goes to eat or bring back food. In the fall, if you are very, very vigilant, you might be able to see both parents with the young at the water's edge at dawn teaching them to kill frogs and fish. A sure sign that the young are learning is seeing dead fish or frogs with a single hole through them. I believe these are most likely the "ones that got away", while the young are learning, and they die later. Once I see the dead fish, then I am sure to watch that area at dawn for the next few days.
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I noticed a similar bird in the background that has very black legs. Is that how you made the distinction? I'm sure there were other marks that you looked at. It is a beautiful bird and your pictures are wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
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One thinks of a heron as a slow, deliberate stalker...if this was a crow chick, I wonder if it was still in the nest or maybe out on a limb or even on the ground. If the move was made on a chick still in the nest high in a tree this would totally rewrite the way I think of herons going about getting their meals. As many pairs of crow eyes as there are back there, this was one bold heron thanks for the link...I'm on dial-up so YT is a pain for us, but I will set it up late one night and let it download this one.
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Great blue heron rookeries are few and far between. I vote to leave them alone. We have one heron rookery in Milwaukee County, WI, and the DNR is watching that one. It has been in decline in recent years and it is feared that the heron reporduction may cease. Its at the edge of a swampy location. The rookery trees have died and there are no replacements. Some of the decline is due to expanding development of housing and harrasment by boys. This rookery has been responsible for most of the heron population in a 10 mile radius. This has been declared a protected site. Yes, the herons do eat trout along with any other species of fish it may find. They also spear frogs, toads, and small snakes, and just about anything that wiggles in water.
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catherinet
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Good to know, Donna! Thanks!
natureislife
Original Author
7 years ago
Great information, Thanks! This morning was rainy and we went on our morning walk and for the first time saw the Heron with another. So perhaps they are nesting and hunting together....for the time being.
ZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
7 years ago
Herons nest in a "rookery" where you will find a number of them all together while they are breeding, laying eggs, and caring for their young (the largest rookery here in Colorado is located at St. Vrain SP I believe). Otherwise they can be quite solitary, at least they don't tend to travel in flocks the way some other birds do.

However, numerous individuals can congregate together in suitable habitat. I work at Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR in Commerce City and a couple weeks ago I counted 8 all clustered together in one location as they were fishing at a lake we've got on the refuge. A few days later I think it was four or five all standing in a neat row at the same lake.
natureislife thanked ZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
natureislife
Original Author
7 years ago
All good information. Thank you guys! They disappeared for a bit and then my husband spotted one today. They are unique to say the least. I thought this was cool: Advice from a Great Blue Heron: Enjoy a good Reed! https://shop.yourtruenature.com/products/advice-from-a-great-blue-heron-jumbo-magnet
Donna R
7 years ago
The Herons around my pond like to hide in the cat tails while they hunt...I don't think I've ever seen them standing in open water with no camouflage..

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