top of page

Great Blue Herons

To make it easier to picture the great blue heron in the wild, browse the images below.

 

Great blue herons (ardea herodias) can be found in any watery habitat from Alaska and Canada, down through the United States into Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and the northern tip of South America. They are a partial migrant, moving only when the water freezes over and a rare vagrant to Europe.

The great blue heron is a opportunistic feeder, eating mainly fish, but will devour almost anything edible that comes within striking distance. It tends to stand very still waiting for its prey to come to it. You will see it wading slowly, up to belly deep in water, or standing like a statue.

They build stick nests in bushes or trees in colonies, usually over water or on a small island surrounded by water. They lose the occassional chick that falls out of the nest to alligators, but in exchange the alligators keep other predators like raccoons from getting to the nests.

Patience Is A Virtue

A great blue heron stands on a dock in the Bahia Beach Marina in Ruskin, Florida in April of 2016, hoping that one of the fishing guides will throw him som of their leftover bait.

Click image to see full picture.

Solitary Vigil

A great blue heron rests on a fallen oak in the Hillsborough River at tampa Florida's John Sargent Park one beautiful November morning.

Click image to see full picture.

Great Blue Heron in Cypress Tree BW

A great blue heron in the top of a cypress tree on the shore of Lake Parker Park in Lakeland, Florida in black & white photography. This bird is the largest in the heron family.

Click image to see full picture.

Coiled to Strike BW

This great blue heron was on the fishing pier at Ft. Desoto Park in Pinellas County Florida.

Click image to see full picture.

Great Blue Snob BW

This unusual view of a great blue heron was taken on the fishing pier at Ft. Desoto Park in Pinellas County, Florida.

Click image to see full picture.

That Wind Is Cold BW

On a cold, windy January morning this great blue heron sits in a dead tree in Honeymoon Island State Park, Florida.

Click image to see full picture.

Counterclockwise Spiral

Ft. Desoto Park in Pinellas County, Florida feels more like a state park than a county park. For a photographer there are many things that draw your attention, the least of which is the bird life. This great blue heron is an example of just one of their attractions.

Click image to see full picture.

In The Spotlight

This great blue heron was passing infront of an opening in the mangroves at Ft. Desoto Park in Florida, when it was highlighted by the light.

Click image to see full picture.

Nesting Season

A great blue heron prepares a nest at the Venice Rookery in Venice Florida.

Click image to see full picture.

Great Blue Heron in Cypress Tree

Great blue heron in the top of a cypress tree in Lake Parker Park in Lakeland, Florida.

Click image to see full picture.

Early Morning Great Blue

A great blue heron searches for an early breakfast along the Lake Apopka North Shore Wildlife Drive in Orange County Florida.

Click image to see full picture.

Coiled to Strike

This great blue heron was on the fishing pier at Ft. Desoto Park in Pinellas County Florida.

Click image to see full picture.

bottom of page