nesting in large colonies called heronries. Heronries are composed
of two pairs to hundreds of pairs of herons, which helps lead to
genetic diversity within the species. Female herons usually lay
two to six pale blue eggs. Coastal, southeastern North Carolina
has year-round populations of at least six different herons and
egrets, says Collogan. “In the winter time we do sometimes see an
influx of herons and egrets passing through the area from more
northerly summer grounds. New Hanover County is directly on
the Atlantic Flyway, which is the equivalent of I-95 for bird traffic
on the east coast,” he says. — Ashley Peel
11
Small morsels of local happenings ... for you to sink your teeth into. beachbites
nature
the majestic great
blue heron unveiled
ading on long, stork-like legs with red-brown
tints on the thigh, the gray, sleek
neck of the Great Blue Heron hunches over
the marshy waters, patiently waiting for
a fish. Great Blue Herons are members of
the Ardeidae family, as are other herons,
and are common in the Wilmington area. With a head-to-tail length
of 91-140 centimeters, the Great Blue is the largest North American
heron. Its wingspan reaches 167 to more than 200 centimeters, and
it can weigh up to eight pounds.
Great Blue Herons’ diets consists mostly of fish. However, they
often eat small amphibians, reptiles, rodents and insects. They eat
their prey whole, which leads to occasional choking. Because of their
size, Great Blues can hunt in deeper waters, which provide food
sources not available to other heron species.
Local Blue Heron enthusiast and UNCW creative writing profes-sor
David Gessner says that “although they are so common, they
seem to have an air of mystique to them.” An interesting aspect
of the Blue Heron is the sound of their croak. “Their vocalizations
are deep and guttural and always bring to mind what I imagine a
pterodactyl might have sounded like. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds
of Eastern North America describes the call as ‘very deep, hoarse,
trumpeting or croaking fraaahnk,’” says Matthew Collogan, envi-ronmental
education program manager at Airlie Gardens.
In the warm summer months, herons can be spotted wading
on the ocean’s shoreline or hunting in the wetlands or off area
docks. Their breeding period occurs in the spring. Although her-ons
are typically solitary hunters, they are communal nesters,
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Allison Breiner Potter
Allison bREINER pOTTER