Exhibit HI ChlCJgO N.Uur,l I I 



A 



merica 



n H 



erons 



With slow, heavy wing beat, the great blue heron can be seen moving high in the 

 air from feeding to nesting grounds in summer in the Chicago area. 



It is a "still fisherman," standing perhaps up to its belly in the water patiently wait- 

 ing for some unwary fish to come within striking distance of the spear-like bill, or 

 slowly walking about in the water with a care and a stateliness that verge on the 

 ludicrous. It feeds in streams and ponds and marshes. How different is its choice of 

 nesting site ! It is solitary as a fisherman, but when it comes to nesting it is gregarious. 

 The birds make their nests in a single grove of trees, and such an inhabited grove is 

 referred to as a "heronry." The highest trees are sought, and the stick nest is made in 

 the topmost boughs. From three to si.x or seven (usually four) greenish eggs are laid. 



The young hatch as feeble and helpless creatures. For some time they are fed in the 

 nest by both parents, first on regurgitated fish, then on fresh fish, and a heronry be- 

 comes a smelly place. In the latter part of the season it is noisy too, for the young birds. 



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