Nest building or rebuilding takes place soon after the arrival of the migrants. Herons prefer to nest in colonies in tall trees, to which they will return year after year if they are not disturbed. The platform nest is made of sticks and lined with twigs and leaves. Three to five pale green eggs are usually laid in mid to late March. Both parents share incubation duties for about 28 days until hatching, which usually takes place from late April to the middle of May. Both parents feed the young, first by regurgitation and later by delivering whole fish or frogs. The young fledge in late June or early July, 56 to 60 days after hatching. Text courtesy of B. Dispenza, Park Ranger, Metro Parks, Serving Summit County. Our Resources Management Division conducts an on-going heron nest monitoring program. Location:
About 4/10 of a mile north of Station
Road Bridge Trailhead (60K). The heronry is across the river in
the tops of the tall sycamore trees.
Last
Updated:
Wednesday, 22-Dec-2004 09:50:47 Eastern Standard Time
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Great
blue herons are birds of the wetlands, where they feed on fish, small
vertebrates (frogs, salamanders, and snakes), and aquatic invertebrates
(insects & crustaceans). Migrants usually arrive in February or
March, though some herons will over-winter in our area if they can find
enough open water.
