Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Herons - Concerns

Photo courtesy of
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Great Blue Herons are the most well-known and most widespread heron in North America. The bird is protected by the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Human interference brings along considerable destruction of its natural habitat. There are cases of collisions with utility wires, which are fatal for the birds. Building roads and walking near colonies of Great Blue Herons can often result in the birds leaving the place, either temporarily, until the intruders are gone, or permanently. Colonies polluted with chemicals may result in eggs with thinner shells. Such eggs are likely to break during the incubation.

Great Blue Herons were shot for their feathers, which were used as cooking utensils and to decorate hats and garments. The slaughter of these birds went unchecked until 1900. This is the year when the Federal Government passed the Lacey Act. The Act prohibited the foreign and interstate trade of feathers. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act appeared in 1918. The government had to set seasons and bag limits on the hunting of water birds, including Great Blue Herons.

Great Blue Herons - Role in the Ecosystem

Great Blue Herons control fish and insect populations in many habitats. Eagles, northwest crow, raccoons, bears and some other birds and animals prey on the young and adult herons.

Great Blue Herons - Status

Great Blue Herons are common in summer and rare in winter. They are numerous in the places of their breeding colonies from the time of their arrival in spring into early August. From August until October the Great Blue Heron is common throughout Nova Scotia.

Great Blue Herons - Educational Links

Birds of Quebec - Great Blue Heron - Map displays where the heron can be found in the Canadian province. Enjoy a photo of an adult with a heron chick.

Birds of Stanford - Great Blue Heron - Read an essay on colonial nesting, which the heron does, and find out how it hunts and what it eats. Shows the bird's head.

Great Blue Herons - Pictures

Photo courtesy of
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Birds of the Island - Read about the Great Blue Heron, its description and conservation.

Breeding - Breeding Great Blue Herons of the Platte River Valley. Information on breeding population, habitat, effect of habitat alteration and nesting data.

Great Blue Herons - Read of the bird's appearance as a juvenile and as an adult. Sums up its nesting and feeding habits and shows a map of its North American range.

Great Blues - By Sue Holloway. Great Blue Herons Begin Spring Rituals.

Illinois Birds - Great Blue Heron - Gives an idea of where the bird might occur in certain Illinois wetland habitats. Addresses its natural history and shares a list of references.

Monitoring Species - The study has the purpose to determine whether Great Blue Herons would serve as a good monitoring species for fish eating birds from the Columbia and Willamette basins. You will find the description of methods used in the study, results and conclusions.

Nature of New England - Great Blue Heron - Offers range maps and a photo of this bird. Provides a collection of links to species accounts and photos.

Puget Sound Shorelines - Heron facts including their winter survival, nesting and more.

Rescue of a Great Blue Heron - Read a story of a volunteer transporter.

The Great Blue - Learn about the Great Blue Heron and report the Great Blue Herons you see.

The Great Blue Heron Watch - Educational page in form of a diary with pictures.

USGS - Great Blue Herons - US Geological Service offers a natural history, identification tips, photos, a video, and range maps for the species.

Great Blue Herons - Pictures

Photo courtesy of
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Great Blue Herons - Conservation Links

Bird Biographies - Great Blue Heron - Discusses the propensity of the species to nest in colonies and tells where its populations are threatened.

Chesapeake Bay Field Office - Great Blue Heron - Explores the nesting habits of the large bird. Discusses its abundance in the Chesapeake Bay area.

Comparative Taxonomy - Rating in each state for the Great Blue Heron in the United States.

Conservation - Interesting information connected with Great Blue Herons concerns. Pictures.

Environment Canada - Great Blue Heron - Reports on the indicators of and reasons behind the decline of the species on Canada's western coast.

The Heron Working Group - A consortium of individuals from university, government and conservation organizations interested in the conservation of the Pacific Great Blue Heron. Overview, publications and FAQ.