On today’s edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday, we take a look at the tallest bird found at R. B. Winter State Park – the Great Blue Heron!
Great Blue Herons are a very recognizable species with distinctive slate-blue feathers, a long neck, and a dagger-like yellow bill. They stand approximately four feet tall and have a wingspan that can reach up to seven feet in adult birds. Solitary hunters, Great Blue Herons often stand perfectly still for long periods or wade slowly in shallow water, waiting for the right moment to strike at prey.
At R. B. Winter State Park, they can be seen hunting in the shallows of Halfway Lake, often keeping to quieter sections such as the forested eastern shore. When there are fewer visitors at the park, especially in the evening before sunset, they can be spotted near the beach or the fishing area on the south shore of the lake. Great Blue Herons can also be found hunting in the wetlands around the park, as well as along Rapid Run. Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, it is common to see these elegant hunters wading along the banks of lakes, small ponds, streams, and rivers.
Their diet primarily consists of fish, but they are opportunistic feeders and will also eat amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects, and even other birds when the opportunity arises. Great Blue Heron eggs and juvenile birds are vulnerable to predators such as raccoons, crows, black bears, and red-tailed hawks. However, due to their large size and sharp, dagger-like bills, adult Great Blue Herons have few natural predators, though bald and golden eagles will occasionally attempt to prey on adult herons.
If you joined us for the meteor watches at the park earlier this week, you might have caught a glimpse of two Great Blue Herons around the lake. The next time you visit R. B. Winter State Park, be sure to take a moment to watch for these elegant hunters in their natural habitat.
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