Tall and prehistoric-looking, the Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America. Great Blue Herons are often seen flying high overhead with slow wing-beats. When foraging, they stand silently along riverbanks, on lake shores, or in wet meadows. Quickly then, they stab at their prey.... read more »
During winter and early spring, Great Blue Herons build their nests high in the treetops. The male delivers the supplies to the nest site stick by stick, as the female arranges things. It’s the perfect childhood home for their young, made without blueprints, architects or engineers. But by early... read more »
Great Blue Herons nest in colonies, in adjoining trees or with several nests in one tree. But by autumn, the adults and gangly young have left the nests to take up solitary lives, a pattern that is the reverse of many other species. After all the "togetherness" of the nesting colonies, the Great... read more »
It's a rough world for a young Great Blue Heron. A mere one egg in ten results in an adult heron. Only a little more than 25% of fledglings survive their first year. Michael Hobbs witnessed a battle between a young heron and a snake. Successful foraging takes practice. In a trial-and-error world,... read more »
In Seattle, in a secluded ravine just steps away from a busy ship canal, nearly 100 pairs of Great Blue Herons return each year to nest. A group of citizens called Heron Habitat Helpers has helped this colony thrive. Their president, John “Hooper” Havekotte, credits the founders, Donna Kostka and... read more »
Today’s show is dedicated to Cynthia Lufkin, friend of BirdNote, birds, and places important to birds. The music was composed by BirdNote’s Nancy Rumbel, and performed by Nancy on oboe and Eric Tingstad on guitar. The words are drawn from Kentucky poet Wendell Berry’s memorial to a dear friend... read more »
The Great Blue Heron is tall and slender with a bill like a sword and the graceful, measured moves of a dancer. And it’s mostly quiet. But when this bird does make noise, it can be downright scary.Support for BirdNote comes from Seattle’s Portage Bay Café & catering. Serving food raised... read more »
Raccoons sometimes invade nesting colonies of herons, spoonbills, and other wading birds to eat their eggs and chicks. But some of these birds have found ways to deter the masked bandits. Researchers in the Everglades found wading birds including Great Blue Herons and Roseate Spoonbills, among... read more »
Hidden below the outer breast feathers of herons, pigeons, doves, tinamous, bustards and some parrots are patches of special down feathers. These feathers are never molted, and they grow continuously. The tips break down into a dust the consistency of talcum powder. Using a fringed claw on its... read more »
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Great Blue Heron Nest Highlights 2013 --Another year at the nest of the Great Blue Herons of Sapsucker Woods, Ithaca, NY, as featured live on the Cornell Lab's Bird Cams. read more »
Webcams and videos are hosted by third parties.
In exchange, you may periodically see 30-second advertisements. BirdNote
does not endorse any of the products, services, or causes on third-party
pages. All webcams have seasonal changes and may be down for hours, weeks,
or months at a time. If this one is not active, please check our video or
webcam gallery for more.
Webcams and videos are hosted by third parties.
In exchange, you may periodically see 30-second advertisements. BirdNote
does not endorse any of the products, services, or causes on third-party
pages. All webcams have seasonal changes and may be down for hours, weeks,
or months at a time. If this one is not active, please check our video or
webcam gallery for more.
Webcams and videos are hosted by third parties.
In exchange, you may periodically see 30-second advertisements. BirdNote
does not endorse any of the products, services, or causes on third-party
pages. All webcams have seasonal changes and may be down for hours, weeks,
or months at a time. If this one is not active, please check our video or
webcam gallery for more.
