Chronicles

The Great Blue Heron by: Mike Lushington (Photo: Steve Methot)           The Great Blue Heron is arguably one of the most easily identified birds in our part of the world, at least in summertime. They are conspicuous wherever there are Cattail marshes, salt-water flats, or swamp edges. Often, one is seen alone, standing quietly in shallow water at the edge of some vegetation, waiting patiently for a frog or small fish to pass. Those who take the time to watch will often be rewarded as the heron suddenly darts its long neck, armed with a rapier like bill, into the water to capture its prey. A quick shake of its head, a gulp and swallow, and the heron resumes its patient stalking.         Because they are conspicuous birds, most people don't realize that they are not really plentiful. The Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Maritime Provinces, which was published in the early 1990's, records only some 1 400 pairs in the whole of New Brunswick.         Locally, we are fortunate to have several small breeding colonies of these impressive birds, on Heron Island, in the Charlo River estuary, and elsewhere. It is common to see as many as fifty or more fishing when the tide is low at Eel River Bar, and that many again in Charlo.         Surprisingly, for many people, these large, rather awkward birds nest in trees, sometimes at considerable distances from the areas where they do most of their foraging. It is always a surprise to startle one from its nest by an old beaver dam somewhere back in the woods.         Great Blue Herons are summer residents locally. They begin to arrive in late April and early May each year, nest and raise their young over the summer, and begin to depart in early October. Occasional birds will linger into November and many of them don't travel great distances, perhaps only down to the mid Atlantic coastal states. Others, though, will wend their way to Florida or Mexico.         The Great Blue Heron is the "official" bird of the village of Charlo and the unofficial "favourite" bird of many local people. Quiet and rather solitary, it minds its own business and, in so doing, reminds us all of the magic of the natural world around us.

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Irene's Nature Page  Margaret's Gallery  Restigouche Naturalists' Club