Great blue herons are one of the most watchable birds with their three-foot height and six-foot wingspan. They can be seen in both saltwater and freshwater areas, in marshes and along the shores of the oceans, as well as lakes, ponds, streams, tidal flats and sandbars. They stand motionless with only the black pupils in their yellow eyes showing movement as they watch and wait, scanning for prey. But besides this quiet stalking they have been known to dive at and pirate food from gulls, they also land on deep water and float while foraging, and float downstream on rivers while jabbing at fish along the way.


One great blue was observed following a group of dolphin herding fish into shallow water, then feeding on the fish along with the dolphins. Two researchers watched one heron feed at a lake in California by plunging 10 meters into the water for bluegills. Herons eat mostly fish, but also eat some rodents, amphibians, reptiles, and insects which they dunk in water, if available, before flipping them into the air for a head-first swallow. They will take human food scraps too, such as food left outdoors for pets.

The Great blue herons nest together in colonies, otherwise known as a herony, and are sensitive to the effects of human disturbances. In one study of nesting behavior on the Oregon coast, heronies (with 15 to 161 active nests per herony) were found in the tops of red alder, western hemlock, and sitka spruce. The study showed that there were far more active nest sites in isolated areas than areas adjacent to logging (Werschkul 1976), indicating a preference for areas away from human activity. Great blue herons often nest in the tops of trees in addition to rock ledges, sea cliffs, and the ground (Palmer 1962).

The great blue heron hunts for fish by day as well as by night and employs two methods, "Standing" and "Walking Slowly". When "Standing," it will stand motionless in a shallow pool of water, waiting patiently until a fish comes close enough to pluck from the water. When "Walking Slowly," it carefully treads its way through the water, keeping its neck stretched outward and forward. If it catches a small fish, it will immediately swallow it. If the fish is too large, the heron will take it onto the shore, kill it first by beating it into the ground, then pick it apart by biting off bits and pieces (Bent 1926; Hancock and Kushlan 1984).

Their nests range from flimsy platforms 18 inches across, to older nests up to four feet across that seem to be used and repaired year after year. Four eggs are laid in March or April and are incubated for 28 days.

The aigrettes, those feathers on the heron's head and back which are important in courtship displays, nearly brought about the demise of herons and egrets near the end of the last century when it was fashionable for ladies to have their hats and dresses adorned with these plumes. The Audubon Society organized a public outcry against that destruction.

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