By Natalia Astaiza
Great Blue Herons are fascinating, majestic animals that are always a treat to see, whether they are soaring the coastline or standing in the shallow water looking for fish. Here are some fun facts about these creatures:
- Great Blue Herons are very tall and stand 3 to 4.5 feet high. In flight, the bird looks huge with its six-foot wingspan.
- Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for 4 weeks.
- In flight, a Great Blue Heron usually holds its head close to its body with the neck bent.
- The young can first fly at about 60 days old.
- Even though Great Blue Herons seem like a big bird, they weigh only 5-6 pounds. Like other flying birds, their bones are hollow.
- A male heron collects the sticks used for nesting material, which he then presents to the waiting female. She will weave the sticks into a platform which will be lined with soft materials. It might take 2 weeks to build their nest.
- Great Blue Herons hunt from shallow water, moving slowly and searching the water under the surface. They will eat whatever they can catch including frogs, snakes, crayfish, fish, small mammals and even other birds.
- There is a pure white species of Great Blue Heron that lives here in southern coastal Florida. One is currently on display at the Sawgrass Nature Center. Her name is Blue!
- They can be found in both freshwater and saltwater habitats.
- For such large birds, herons are speedy, flying as fast as 30 mph. They usually fly with their necks in an S-shape and their legs trailing behind them.
- The Great Blue Heron does not have a beautiful call. The rough squawk has a guttural almost prehistoric sound to it.
