FLORIDA GREAT BLUE HERON 



THE Great Blue Heron, often miscalled "Crane," is distributed 

 throughout North America. On the humid northwest coast it 

 is darker than in eastern North America; in the arid Great 

 Basin region it is paler; and the Florida form shown here, known as 

 Ward's Heron, is somewhat larger than the others. 



Herons are more aquatic than Cranes and feed largely on fish. In 

 the Eastern States they invariably nest in trees, but in the West they 

 often nest among the reeds like Coots. Young Herons are born in a 

 more or less naked condition and are reared in the nest; Cranes are 

 hatched with a downy covering and can run about shortly after hatch- 

 ing. Herons fly with a fold in the neck, but Cranes keep the neck 

 outstretched. 



On the ground the Heron is a rather homely object, with his lanky 

 form and long legs and neck, but in flight, his neck folded, the great 

 wings, slowly flapping, bear him on his stately way. Rarely he sets 

 his wings and soars grandly in lofty circles. 



In hunting, he either stalks patiently, lifting his feet and setting 

 them down with the greatest deliberation and care, or stands even more 

 patiently waiting. In either case a lightning-like thrust of his beak 

 brings the frog, fish, reptile or even mouse which constitutes his fare. 



The Great Blue Heron's eggs are pale blue, unmarked, two and a 

 half inches long. Three or four form a set. 



The Heron's notes are loud squawks. 



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