Saturday, January 15, 2011

Great Blue Heron of the Vermilon River. A Post to Camera Critters # 145



Probably one of the most dramatic predators of the bird world ,up here anyway, the Great Blue Heron is a welcome addition to the wetlands of the Vermilon River. Feeding on frogs and small fish, he waits patiently for his prey, and then attacks in the most efficient manner moving forward on his long legs which seem to unfold ,easily moving him through the bog which would imprison us.

A few facts about the Great Blue:
1) They sometimes nest in colonies. It is uncertain whether they come together by choice (social), or merely settle in sites which are mutually attractive because they possess certain characteristics such as safety from predators ,and thus end up together. Who's Who in the Hinterland, from whom this information is taken, recommend that there should be no developement within 300m of nesting sites.
2) They have an elaborate courtship ritual, which consists of snapping their bills.
3)The male and female share nurturing duties.

 For further information see: http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?cid=78id=43 Who's Who In the Hinterland.

 A Post to Camera Critters # 144. For further sites go to: http://cameracritters.blogspot.com/
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41 comments:

  1. Hootin AnniJanuary 15, 2011 at 7:15 AM

    Aren't they so very regal in carriage and flight?!!! I love 'em.


    American Coots

    http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/2011/01/coot-by-any-other-name.html

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  2. eileeninmdJanuary 15, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    The herons are cool birds to watch. Great photos. I really love the second shot.

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  3. SnapJanuary 15, 2011 at 7:24 AM

    The Great Blue is one of my favorites ... such a magnificent bird. Wonderful images. Happy Critter Day!

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  4. EG CameraGirlJanuary 15, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    I get so excited when I see blue herons. Neat photos!

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  5. Sally in WAJanuary 15, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    I enjoy watching the herons, too. Thanks for the facts this morning. Always good to learn more!

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  6. Phil SladeJanuary 15, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Great pictures Gary, and the Great Blue Heron is so much like our UK Grey Heron but which of course is smaller

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  7. LindaJanuary 15, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    The herons are one of my favourite birds to watch when I go down by the bay. Lovely photos. Thanks for stopping by my blog today via Camera Critters. It is always nice to meet another Canadin blogger. Have a great day.

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  8. YoshiJanuary 15, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    Japanese men should learn lesson from the Great Blue Heron in terms of the fact #3! Me? We don't have kids!
    Fantastic capture, as always. National Geographic quality!!!
    Yoshi

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  9. Martha ZJanuary 15, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    They are beautiful and interesting. The developer of my community built a golf course under the nest tree of a large colony. The tree was shared by herons and egrets. Not surprisingly they abandoned the tree but found one outside the development. I haven't see any activity there yet this year but it is probably too early. A second tree, adjacent to a shopping center had a couple of nests last year. I'm anxious to see if there will be activity again as that one is easier to get a shot of.

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  10. AFTERMATHJanuary 15, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    Gary, this is another bird that we now have in the winter, one or two all year, poking along icy waterways. Great shots.

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  11. Small City ScenesJanuary 15, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Excellent shots of the Great Blue. We have lots of them out here. Many rookeries here too. One at March Point is supposedly one of the largest west of the Mississippi--Who knows.
    I am going to post some pics Wednesday of nesting Herons if I remember by then--LOL. MB

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  12. UnknownJanuary 15, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Great job with these! I am hoping to get a Great blue while grabbing a fish. They are such great birds.

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  13. Kay L. DaviesJanuary 15, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    Thanks, Gary. Great shots, and now I know more than I did before about the Great Blue. I've seen plenty of them near my home city of Vancouver, BC, where there are lots of rivers and marshes, but I never really knew much about them.
    -- K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  14. Hilke BrederJanuary 15, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    Nice capture, Gary! One of my favorite birds. You can always rely on seeing one in a wetland, although I have never seen one in the winter. My experience differs from Robin's. Cheers to you and Boomer!

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  15. JaneJanuary 15, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    Such majestic birds, nice captures:)

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  16. Bob BushellJanuary 15, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    Really great Heron, good shots Gary & Boomer.

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  17. DianneJanuary 15, 2011 at 6:51 PM

    they are so graceful looking
    beautiful shots

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  18. ChrisJanuary 16, 2011 at 1:02 AM

    Yes a very good predator and a beautiful bird also!!! Nice shots and nice text Gary..

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  19. theconstantwalkerJanuary 16, 2011 at 3:38 AM

    lovely images of a beautiful bird. I enjoy watching our Grey Herons in the UK. Such patient hunters..

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  20. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:35 AM

    Him Anni. Thanks for the visit and great words.

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  21. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:37 AM

    Hi eileeninmd. Good to hear from you and thanks for the kind words.

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  22. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:38 AM

    To Snap. The Great blue is one of my favourite predators also.

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  23. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    Thanks EGW for the visit and kind words.

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  24. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    Hi Sally. Glad you liked the few facts.

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  25. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:41 AM

    To Phil: Very similiar and just as incredible a bird.

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  26. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    To Crafty Gardener: Thanks for the visit. Drop by again.

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  27. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    Yoshi, you're too kind.

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  28. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:45 AM

    To Martha Z. I'm always mistrustful of developers around wildlife. I hope they return.

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  29. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:46 AM

    Hi Robin. You're lucky they're around in the winter.

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  30. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:47 AM

    To SCS. I'll be looking for the post.

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  31. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:49 AM

    To John S. Mead. I'd like the same plus some waxwing shots with a berry in the birds' month. Oh well!!

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  32. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    Hi Kay. Glad you have the chance to see them it's really something.

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  33. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:51 AM

    Hi Jidu Jose. Thanks for the words.

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  34. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:52 AM

    Hi Hilke. Aways a pleasure to hear from you!

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  35. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:53 AM

    Hi Jane. They are beauties.

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  36. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:54 AM

    Thanks Bob. Always fun to hear from you.

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  37. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:54 AM

    Hi Dianne and thanks for the visit.

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  38. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    Hi Chris. The text is just a popularization of a government site. But its fun to know things about nature.

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  39. UnknownJanuary 16, 2011 at 5:57 AM

    Hi Andrew. I always stop for the Heron on any site. Thanks for the visit.

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  40. Iowa Gardening WomanJanuary 16, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    You captured a beautiful bird in a beautiful way!

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  41. UnknownJanuary 17, 2011 at 5:30 AM

    Thanks IGW.

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