Big Cranky
by Scott Severs
One of our most prominent avian residents has been busy already setting up
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Great Blue Heron and Red-winged Blackbird |
their nests. As we approach the dog days of June, these large avian friends will only be reaching the midpoint of their lengthy nesting season. Often confused with cranes, great blue herons will be working hard this month to nest build, lay, and then incubate eggs. Later they will be busy procuring fish and small animals for their nests of hungry young.
These stately anglers are fairly easy to identify, particularly because they can be up to four feet tall. Characterized
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by stilt-like legs and long snaky necks, the great blue heron has slate-blue feathers, whitish underparts and a whitish head. During most of the year, the heron sports two long black plumes out the back of the head, but during the breeding season the adult grows long lacy plumes along the back and the base of the neck. These specialty feathers are called nuptial plumes. In the air, the heron draws its heads close to its body in an "S" shaped curve while letting its long legs trail behind its tail. Long, broad wings produce strong, heavy wing-beats and allow great blues to reach their favorite fishing haunts relatively easily.
Endowed with a superior instinct for attacking prey, the great blue also has physical features which make it ideally suited to fishing. Standing motionless in shallow water, it waits patiently for fish to swim nearby. Once the food is within reach it lashes out its long neck
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Great Blue Heron and
Red-winged Blackbird |
and stabs or grasps the prey with its long, sharp bill. Most fish are swallowed whole head-first, but big fish require a little more handling. After impaling them with its dagger-like bill, the heron tears them up but still sometimes chokes on fish that are too large. Small rodents, crayfish, snakes, baby birds, and frogs fill out the diet of the wader. In more southern regions, the great blue will even dine on young alligators.
"Big Cranky" (the nickname apparently descriptive of the heron's demeanor) begins nesting activities in early April to May. Nesting pairs use sticks to build flat rickety platforms about 18 inches across, and line them with twigs and grasses. Most herons place their nests high in large cottonwood or willow trees, 30-50 feet off the ground. The female usually lays four pale olive eggs and the pair takes turns incubating the eggs until they hatch about a month later. The parents feed their young a predigested mush of fish, and face a long summer of work. The young herons will not leave the nest until 60-90 days after hatching.
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Great Blue Heron |
Great blue herons can be found throughout the Front Range in Colorado and along rivers and streams in western valleys of the state. During the breeding season, herons gather in huge colonies known as rookeries or heronries, where many birds nest together. There are some exceptional places to see nesting great blue in the Denver/Boulder region, including St. Vrain State Park, Chatfield Reservoir State Park, Barr Lake State Park, and east of 95th street at Boulder Valley Farms. In the last few years a colony of perhaps 30 nests has been constructed just northwest of Walden Ponds along Boulder Creek. Other colonies in Boulder County include one on Crane Hollow Rd southwest of Hygiene and a close by one on north 61st St northwest of
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Great Blue Heron |
Hygiene. In addition to great blue herons, great egrets (a type of heron known for their beautiful white plumes), double-crested cormorants, and black-crowned night herons sometimes share these heronries. If you'd like more specific information on locating "great-blues", just let us know. We're eager to share the excitement of watching these majestic birds.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Great Blue Heron National Geographic: Great Blue Heron On Youtube by khaledazamnoor: Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) ARKIVE:Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) On flickr by Dene' (Seattle) Miles: Early Riser Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve Society: HeroCam  | | Great Blue Herons |
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