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/

41 comments:

  1. 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

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

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

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  7. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  8. 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

    ReplyDelete
  9. 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.

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

    ReplyDelete
  11. 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

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

    ReplyDelete
  13. 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

    ReplyDelete
  14. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Such majestic birds, nice captures:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Really great Heron, good shots Gary & Boomer.

    ReplyDelete
  17. they are so graceful looking
    beautiful shots

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  20. Him Anni. Thanks for the visit and great words.

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks EGW for the visit and kind words.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Sally. Glad you liked the few facts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Jidu Jose. Thanks for the words.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Hilke. Aways a pleasure to hear from you!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thanks Bob. Always fun to hear from you.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi Dianne and thanks for the visit.

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  38. You captured a beautiful bird in a beautiful way!

    ReplyDelete