Great Blue Heron

My Species Story

Great Blue Herons are a very special bird to De and I. There seems to always be one nearby when we need it -- a bit of reassurance when we are feeling uneasy. Especially when we are heading out and traveling in or to a new place. When we took the van out for the first time in the Fall of 2021, we spotted a Great Blue near every campsite we set up in.

Their ancient beauty and elegance feels regal, and it is a thrill to encounter them every time. For some reason, more than any other bird, I think of them watching this land change over the eons from atop their food chain, surviving despite the disappearing acres of wetland by just being strong enough to eat anything and everything.

My Species Description

Four feet tall but only about four pounds, these masters of wetlands are a good reminder of birds' dinosaur heritage.

They will eat just about anything they can stab with their bill and get down their throat, up to and including young alligators.

In the waters of Louisiana, if there is water with fish in it it probably gets visited by a Great Blue Heron at least every once in a while. In Northeast Oregon, they can even be found out in the prairies and ag fields hunting rodents alongside the raptors.

One of the most familiar and iconic wading birds of North America, these stoic beauties capture the imagination of even the most casual bird observers.