Photo share: Great Blue Heron

At the nest by Brocken Inaglory

The Great Blue Heron is North America’s largest and most abundant heron. With its long stilt like legs, long neck, and spear shaped bill, it is well equipped for wading in water and catching fish. Herons feed on fish, frogs, and other small animals, captured by a quick jab of the beak.

They are taller and much heavier than a Great Egret and smaller and much less bulky than a Sandhill Crane. In flight the Great Blue Herons can curl their neck into an S shape for a more aerodynamic flight profile unlike the straight-necked geese and cranes.

Breeding occurs in Michigan from March to May. These 3-5 feet tall birds like to build nests in trees with other herons in colonies close to lakes or other wetlands. The female lays three to six pale blue eggs and both male and female take turns incubating the eggs for a month.

Both parents take turns feeding until the babies fledge 60 to 81 days later. After they leave the nest, the parents continue feeding the babies for a few weeks while they teach them to hunt.

The average lifespan for the Great Blue Heron is 15 years. As with most animals, they are most vulnerable when they are young. More than half (69%) of the great blue herons born in one year will die before they are a year old. After 22 months they reach their sexual maturity and look for a mate.