The Great Blue Heron located in Cold Spring, MN offers a supperclub, onsite private events, and offsite catering. Heron Store Our Summer Plans for 2021 We know that this is probably not the news you want to hear today, but we will NOT be having The Great Blue Heron Music Festival again this year. The great blue heron flies with its neck folded. Learn about the 10 egrets and herons found in North America. Heronries range from 3 – 432 nests in Kentucky. Let The Great Blue Heron host your next special occasion. The great blue heron is the largest heron species in North America, standing about 4 feet tall. Fun Facts - The great blue heron is the largest heron in North America, having a wingspan of nearly 6 feet (1.83 m). They are seen throughout North America, hunting in shallow water or open fields. Herons are highly adaptable and may be found hunting in urban settings such as ponds of city parks. But even though they are large birds, they don’t weigh much (only 5 to 6 pounds), thanks to their light, hollow bones (a trait most birds have). Great blue herons are the largest heron in North America. The thighs are reddish or rusty and the lower legs dark. The heron is gregarious. Great Blue Heron, Amerikaanse Blauwe Reiger, Blue Crane, California Heron, Crane, Espiritu Santo Heron, Florida Heron, Long John, San Lucas Heron, Treganza's Heron, Ward's Heron, Big Cranky, Gray Crane, Great White Heron, Northwestern Coast Heron, Poor Joe The bill is yellowish, and the pale breast feathers are long and plumelike. Great blue herons will also nest in colonies and can occupy the same area year after year. Specially-shaped neck vertebrae allow great blue herons to curl their neck into its characteristic S-shape for flying and hunting. Herons have been known to choke to death while trying to swallow prey that is too large. The grey heron has similar plumage but has a gray neck and lacks the brown flanks of the great blue heron. It has a direct flight on steady wing beats. The head is white with a black, plumed eye line. Great blue herons are able to hunt during the night as well as the day. The upper mandible is dark and the lower is yellow. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Great Blue Heron colonies may be located adjacent to lakes, rivers, and marshes, although inland heronries are frequently found in isolated woodlots several miles from any water. Great blue herons frequent many habitats from shallow areas of marshes, lakes, streams, and oceans, where they feed on fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates; to pastures and dry fields where they hunt for rodents, primarily during the winter. The head has a white face, cap and black crest. Great Blue Heron: This large heron has a blue-gray back, black sides and a gray-and-white striped belly. Great blue herons have a very large, slate-blue body, long legs, long, pointy bill and a slender, long neck. The Great Blue Heron is the largest of the North American herons, standing 45-54 inches tall with a wingspan of 66-79 inches. Great Blue Heron Rookery, Page 1 Best Survey Period State Distribution Great Blue Heron Rookery Status: The species is not on T & E list, however, MNFI does record and monitor locations of rookeries through-out the state. The gray heron is also a smaller bird weighing between 1.02–2.08 kg. The crane, a similar looking bird, flies with its neck extended. Once the nest is completed, the female can lay 2 – 7 eggs and both she and the male will take turns incubating them, males during the day and females at night. When hunting, Great Blue Herons can be seen standing statue-like or wading slowly as they stalk fish and other small prey. It mainly feeds on small fish but will take a variety of foods. 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