Lower Makefield Township's Bird Town - Bird of the Month

The Blue Heron

Fascinating facts about the Blue Heron

• Many of us consider the Great Blue Heron to be a rock star of the canal!
• Despite their impressive size, Great Blue Herons only weigh 5 to 6 pounds.
• In this area, they have benefited from the recovery of beaver populations, which offers the Herons swamps and meadows that allow
  for foraging and nesting.
• Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray. They use this “powder-down” to keep themselves clean and free of fish slime
  and other oils by collecting the down with a fringed claw on their middle toes. They then apply the powder-down all over their bodies.
• Great Blue Herons can hunt day and night as they have excellent night vision.
• The oldest recorded Great Blue Heron was found in Texas and was said to be 24 years, 6 months old.
• Because of specially shaped neck vertebrae, they can quickly strike prey, even at a distance, as many of us have been fortunate enough to witness.

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