yo BIRDS OF P. E. ISLAND. 



GREAT BLUE HERON. 

 (Ardea herodias) 



This is the largest of our wading birds, and 

 one of the most common. The tall, gaunt form 

 of the " crane " standing at low water in the 

 weedy shallows is everywhere a picturesque feature 

 of our summer coast. A solitary bird or two comes 

 in April, while snow and ice are plenty. Then 

 it may be seen standing on the ice and patiently 

 watching at a hole for a precarious meal. It is 

 the first of June before "cranes" become com- 

 mon. Then they attend to their nesting, which 

 is conducted in great colonies, called heronries. 

 There is a noted heronry in an old spruce forest 

 at the head of Howell's Brook. The birds from, 

 this encampment frequent the bays many miles 

 away on both sides of the Island. They are at 

 their fishing before break of day, and the late 

 glimpse of twilight at evening sees the great 

 broad wings slowly coursing over the darkened 

 hills, as the faithful fisher returns with the late 

 burden to its young. Awkward as the " crane " 

 looks, it is very successful in capturing game. 



