Great neighbor, the great blue heron

Great neighbor, the great blue heron

One of the many benefits of living in the lowcountry is the opportunity to observe the magnificent birds that live and visit here. I am always thrilled to catch a sighting of the Great Blue Heron, a graceful resident usually seen along the marsh shore.

Before choosing to write this piece I confess that I knew next to nothing about these birds, writing usually forces me to do a little research and I am always the wiser for it. There are numerous resources available online for anyone interested in identifying birds, to say nothing of the many books available at the library. I am not one the make resolutions, but this year I resolve to educate myself on the topic of our local birds.

What I learned about Great Blue Herons…..Known as a wading bird they feed primarily on small fish although I once was startled to see one choke down a good sized reptile. Sunrise and sunset are their preferred meal times. They can make loud croaking sounds but I haven’t heard one yet. One of the thirteen species of wading birds that nest in SC, it is the only species not in decline. Although they are what are known as a “solitary hunters” they nest in colonies with other Great Blue Herons, up in sturdy trees close to the shore. Of course there is lots more info on these beauties but I will leave that discovery up to the reader… me, I am now onto the Snowy Egret.

Happy Birding…

Article by Cindy Reid