70 BIRDS OK P. E. ISLAND. 



C.REAT BLUE IIKRON. 

 ( A rdea herodias) 



This is tlie largest of our wading [jirds, and 

 one of the most common. The tall, gaunt form 

 of the "crane" stntuling at low water in the 

 weedy shallows is everywhere a picturescjue 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 })recarious meal. It is 

 the fu'st 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 l)irds from 

 this encampment frequent the bays many miles 

 away on both sides of the Island. They are at 

 their fishing before l)reak of day, and the late 

 glim})se of twilight at evening sees the great 

 broad wings slowly coursing over the darkened 

 hills, as the faithful fisher returns with the late 

 l)urden to its young. Awkward as the "crane" 

 looks, it is very successful, in cai)turing game. 



