THE HERON 



itself. This is at Richmond Park ; whilst there are some 

 forty nests at Wanstead. Although the Heron breeds 

 in societies like Rooks, the bird is by no means so gre- 

 garious, and often wanders off alone to feed by itself. 

 In some localities, however, several may be seen fishing 

 in company. The sight of this big bird winging its 

 stately way across the sky so near to the great city is a 

 cherished delight to the student of London bird-life, 

 and one may hope that the Heron will eventually spread 

 to other parts of the vast Metropolis. The Heron seeks 

 most of its food by the waterside or in swampy places. 

 Here it may be seen standing motionless and watchful 

 waiting to pounce upon some small fish or frog, or 

 walking sedately about in quest of some lizard or small 

 animal. It is one of the wariest of our native birds, 

 conscious that its large size attracts notice, and hurries 

 off the moment danger is detected, unfolding its broad 

 wings and rising with mighty sweeps, its long legs raised 

 up in a line with the head, which is held well between 

 the shoulders. It often flies far to feed, and during the 

 nesting season is a familiar object in the sky, passing to 

 and from its nest. Its loud, trumpet-like call is heard 

 most frequently during flight ; but at the nest especially, 

 where the birds are somewhat quarrelsome, a series of 

 grunting croaks may often be heard. The Heron begins 

 nesting near London almost as soon as the Rook, and the 

 eggs are laid during March and April. The same woods 

 are used year by year, and the nests are built in close 

 proximity. The nest is a huge massed platform of sticks, 

 often the accumulation of years, mixed with turf and 

 moss as a sort of lining in some cases but not in all. 

 The three to five eggs are greenish blue. When the 

 trees are approached the big birds rise fluttering through 

 the branches, and at a great height sail to and fro watching 

 the fate of their homes. At Richmond the Herons may 

 be watched standing on their nests or perched on the 



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