Monday, May 20, 2019

GREAT BLUE HERON

I shared a few photos of a Great Blue Heron in my last post from Huntley Meadows Park.  On our way out we came across another fishing.  He was very interesting to watch.
 Great Blue Herons have a six-foot wingspan when seen in flight.
Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for 4 weeks. 
Not all Great Blue Herons nest in trees.  Some are ground nesters, and will use grasses to build their nests instead of sticks.  
They lay about 6 to 8 eggs per season, but only 1 or 2 will survive.   
 The young can first fly at about 60 days old.
 A heron will typically live for about 15 years.
 The oldest recorded heron lived to be 24 years old.
 They spend 90% of their waking hours stalking for food.
 I found all my information, and much more, at this website.  Also, if you click on the label 'Huntley Meadows Park_Alexandria' below this post, it will take you to other visits we have made.
 It doesn't look like he had any luck this time and he walked over to the next fishing hole.  



28 comments:

  1. Herons are so entertaining to watch when they are fishing and these are great shots.

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  2. Beautiful, beautiful birds - and thank you for the additional information.

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  3. I love your photos and the nice border around the photos as well as your clever signing off name.

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  4. I like the presentation of photographs, and the edging on them. Well done, you.

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    1. Eu concordo, um pássaro muito elegante. Um abraço e uma boa semana para você :)

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  6. I learned a lot while admiring your great pictures! Gosh, life really is about eating to survive isn’t it? 90 percent is a lot of time to spend onlooking for food!

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  7. so beatufiul, I love to see their wings spread all the way or half the way or as they leap up from the water or down into the water. they are pretty amazing birds

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  8. Great blue herons have tremendous patience. It's what we need from time to time.

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  9. Hi Denise,
    Super set of images of the Heron and also information on the bird.
    Always good to watch them stalking prey.
    All the best, John

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    1. Hi John, glad you enjoyed my post and you are very welcome. All the best to you too :)

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  10. Nice to learn a bit about the Blue Heron, thanks.

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  11. Great series of that Blue Heron!

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  12. Hello Denise, you have the most intriguing little animal/name signatures at the ends of your posts. Always enjoyable! I'm sad these magnificent birds must lay so many eggs to have only one or two survive. I'd love to see that wingspan in person!

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    1. Hi Sara, I enjoy making them and so glad you enjoy looking at them :) I agree, I felt sad when I read that too.

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  13. I have a great fondness for them. They're so patient.

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