Great Blue Heron: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Cranes, Flamingos and Herons · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. A great blue heron can swallow fish up to 60 cm long and 900 g heavy, though it usually prefers 10-20 cm fish.
2. Its long, sharp bill spears prey, usually in water less than 50 cm deep.
3. A heron nest starts around 50 cm across but can grow to over 120 cm wide and 90 cm deep with repeated use.
4. Heron colonies are called heronries. They can hold between five and 500 nests, averaging about 160 per site.
5. Adult great blue herons face few predators, but bald eagles will attack them at any life stage, from egg to adult.

The quiz

1. How long a fish can a great blue heron swallow?

• Up to 60 cm (correct)
• Up to 6 cm
• Up to 160 cm
• Up to 20 cm

It can swallow fish up to 60 cm long.

2. In water of what depth does the heron usually hunt?

• More than 5 m
• Exactly 1 m
• Less than 50 cm (correct)
• About 2 m

It usually feeds in water less than 50 cm deep.

3. How wide can a heron nest grow with repeated use?

• Over 12 cm
• Over 120 cm (correct)
• Over 50 cm
• Over 12 m

Nests can grow to over 120 cm wide.

4. What is a heron colony called?

• A swarm
• A school
• A herd
• A heronry (correct)

Heron colonies are called heronries.

5. Which predator attacks herons at any life stage?

• The bald eagle (correct)
• The red fox
• The barn owl
• The otter

Bald eagles attack them at any life stage.

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