Wetland Birds: Great Blue Herons

If you have the chance to visit a wetland, you might see some interesting birds. Wetland birds have special adaptations to live in these wet places. One of my favorite wetland birds is the great blue heron.




This great blue heron was right next to the Chesapeake Bay on Kent Island, Maryland. At first I thought it was a statue--until it moved! Notice how the heron has a long beak and long, skinny legs. Herons like to stand in shallow water and watch for fish. Then, they spear them with their sharp beaks. They swallow the fish whole.



In the picture below, you can see another heron. This one was at a salt marsh near Ocean City. I watched this heron for about half an hour as it took a step, watched for fish, and caught them. I saw it swallow about three fish in the time that I watched it. But herons don't eat just fish--they'll also feed on water insects, frogs, shrimp, and just about anything else that it can find in its habitat.

Herons are often easy to see. You don't have to make a trek to some wild and remote place. Herons come to creeks, ponds, rivers, man-made ponds, and even drainage ditches. As I ride in the car, I like to look for herons. I can catch a glimpse of one at least once a week.

As you ride across a bridge, look out the window at the river or creek below--you might just see a heron standing there, waiting to catch some fish.