HERONS AND EGRETS 



America. The great blue heron is divided 

 into nearly a dozen geographical varieties 

 scattered over the United States and south- 

 ward. The northwest coast heron, a dark 

 variety, is found on the coast of British 

 Columbia and on the Queen Charlotte and 

 Vancouver Islands ; the California blue heron 

 on the Pacific Coast of Oregon and California, 

 and the Tryganza blue heron in the Great 

 Plains country from the w^estern part of the 

 Mississippi Valley west to eastern Washing- 

 ton, Oregon and California. 



The great blue heron, or blue crane, is a 

 common sight along the shores of ponds, lakes 

 and streams in all parts of the United States 

 and almost seems a part of the landscape as 

 one glances across open shallow water in search 

 of the water birds that may be found there. 



The great blue heron frequents salt as w^ell 

 as fresh water and is found in large numbers 

 about the bays and estuaries along the coast. 

 Here it may be seen wading in shallow water 

 or standing in its statuesque pose as it 

 w^atches for fish or other small marine life. 

 It usually fishes in the morning or evening, 

 though at times it may be found standing 

 about in the moonlight or in the middle of 

 the day watching patiently for its prey. It 

 seizes its victim with a sudden thrust of its 

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