Wildlife
The Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias fannini
Great blue herons nest together in colonies, otherwise known as a rookery (or Heronry), and are sensitive to the effects of human disturbances.
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The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in Canada. In addition to the long neck, long legs and short tail that characterizes this group of water birds, the Great Blue Heron has mainly greyish-blue upper parts and markings of black and white on the crown and under parts. It stands over 1 meter tall; in flight the neck is doubled back so the head is against the shoulders. The Pacific subspecies is the darkest in colour of the Great Blue Heron subspecies.
Fun FactPeople who create and stock fish ponds may find that their expensive fish are being eaten by great blue herons. Inexpensive countermeasures include installing bird netting or decoy herons (Ferguson 1998).
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