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/

Great Blue Heron of The Vermilon River-World Bird Wednesday Post.



Note His Head Plumes 



Again the head plume



When they go to lift off, its breathtaking. 

 With all of the wetlands I've shown you as we ramble through the Vermilon River district you had to guess that it is home, at least in a breeding way, in the summer to these guys. These incredible birds hunt these wetlands for frogs and fish to their hearts' content. If not common they are easy to find, although not in the colonies that the bird guides say, here at least. Maybe mine are anti-social. It was impossible to get their photos until I got the new sigma 150-500mm lens, as they were always on the other side of the wetland, some the size of small lakes.Remember this is a wilderness forest the birds or animals are not habituated, and that also accounts for the difficulty. They're ( all birds and animals) not used to people and they fear predators.