Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Herons are often mistaken for Sandhill Cranes. These herons, however, are
much more common around Vancouver, especially in open, short-grass fields or
wherever there is shallow water. In winter, large numbers can be seen in knee-deep
water over mudflats, especially off the causeway to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. In
summer, birders are attracted to the nesting colony in Stanley Park. This heronry,
in the zoo and near Lost Lagoon, is the oldest in British Columbia.
Whether standing in the water waiting for a fish to cross its path, or in a dry field
waiting for a field mouse to come within striking distance, the Great Blue Heron is a
patient hunter. It catches its prey, which may also include frogs, snakes, crabs and
insects, with a lightening thrust of its bill. At times, when the prey seems longer than
the heron is capable of eating, swallowing can take several minutes.

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