One of the most memorable birds in the province, the sight of a Great Blue Heron can almost take your breath away.
The Great Blue Heron is one of the most majestic birds in the Heron family. Standing between 1.3 and 1.4 meters tall the Great Blue Heron is one of the largest in this family as well. Also, this bird can reach widths of 1.8 meters with its large wingspan. Their long dark coloured legs are met with brown upper legs and thighs. This bird's blue-grey body and wings are the feature which gave this bird its name, and during the breeding season the colors are more vibrant. The sight of a breeding Great Blue Heron is spectacular.
It is seen throughout the southern and central regions of Ontario, year-round. The Great Blue Heron can be spotted in some northern areas, but it is absent in the far north reaches of the province. The most common habitats for these birds are along the edges of lakes, rivers and marshes where they feed. But, they have also been spotted in fields and meadows. Rarely will a Great Blue Heron winter in the province but it is not unheard of. The best time for spotting the bird is between the period of late March to late November. As well, when watching for the Great Blue Heron some of the best sites include: Long Point Provincial Park in Rowan, Lake Scugog, which is part of the Kwartha Lakes water system; also Algonquin Provincial Park and Grundy Lake Provincial Park are good sites.
The feeding habit of the Great Blue Heron is known as, "stand and wait". As the name suggests these birds are patient predators. Standing in shallow water they strike at small fish, amphibians, and mammals, rarely scavenging. They have also been known to feed off aquatic invertebrates and reptiles. The nests of this bird are generally found in trees and are known as "rookeries". A Great Blue Heron rookery can reach diameters of 1.2 meters and consists of a weak to elaborate platform of twigs. In this rookery 3-7 pale greenish-blue eggs are laid. The birds will then share the incubation for a period lasting approximately twenty-eight days.
With said information it will be easy to identify this bird. But, there is a final distinguishing feature of the Great Blue Heron. Most commonly, this bird is mistaken for a Crane, and this feature will help to avoid that mistake. In flight, the neck of a Crane is extended straight out ahead of them. This differs from the Great Blue Heron as when they take off their long neck becomes curved backward into their shoulders, where it stays until they land.
References;
Birds of Ontario. Andy Bezener. Lone Pine Publishing, 2000
