Wading Wonder- Grey Heron
Latin name: Ardea cinerea
A common and unmistakeable sight around British waterways, the grey heron is a predatory wading bird whose range spans from temperate Europe all the way to South Africa and eastern Asia. However, some of these locations are only used as breeding or wintering grounds, whereas Britain is a permanent home for the ever-present heron.
Tall in appearance, the grey heron stands at about a metre tall and possesses a wingspan at almost double that size, whilst their body weight ranges from approximately 1-2 kilograms. The plumage consists largely of a grey-white colouration, with a streak of black feathers often found down the flank of the bird, as well as under the wings and over the eye. The heron has a large, slender bill usually consisting of a pinkish- yellow hue and a long winding neck which it utilises efficiently whilst on the hunt for food and keeps retracted whilst in flight.
When hunting, herons consume virtually anything that is unfortunate enough to be present in the shallow water in which it strikes. Fish, amphibians and invertebrates make up the bulk of the heron's diet. It is also occasionally reported that herons have taken and feasted upon vulnerable, juvenile birds to supplement its usual diet, with ducklings being a prime example. Herons often adapt an almost motionless stance whilst hunting, often positioning itself at the edge of a body of water ready to strike prey in the shallows. Smaller prey is swallowed, whereas larger prey is dragged on-shore before being beaten and skewered using the heron's sharp bill.
Adult herons are rarely victims of predation. Nevertheless, eggs and young birds are at risk from larger birds such as crows or kites. Herons can also be vulnerable to a variety of parasites, with reports suggesting the species is susceptible to invasion from as many as 29 different species of parasitic worm.
Breeding takes place in the form of colonies, called heronries, which are usually located in tall trees near a body of slow-moving or still water. The same nest is repeatedly used every year until it collapses or is destroyed. Nests are often constructed using sticks and twigs, grasses and dead reeds, which the male normally collects whilst the female builds into a suitable site to lay her eggs.
Courtship is usually initiated by the male calling from the chosen nest site. Once the female has arrived, the pair begin taking part in what has been dubbed a 'stretching ceremony'. Each bird extends its neck, whilst simultaneously flexing its legs. Once a pairing has been formally established, the male offers the female a stick to incorporate into the nest. Once fertilised, the female normally lays a batch of about 3-5 eggs. Once hatched, the chicks develop a voracious appetite, before fledging the nest at about 7-8 weeks. A heron's average life expectancy numbers around the 5 year mark, although some have been recorded to survive for as much as four times that long.
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| Image by Peter Ertl |
A common and unmistakeable sight around British waterways, the grey heron is a predatory wading bird whose range spans from temperate Europe all the way to South Africa and eastern Asia. However, some of these locations are only used as breeding or wintering grounds, whereas Britain is a permanent home for the ever-present heron.
Tall in appearance, the grey heron stands at about a metre tall and possesses a wingspan at almost double that size, whilst their body weight ranges from approximately 1-2 kilograms. The plumage consists largely of a grey-white colouration, with a streak of black feathers often found down the flank of the bird, as well as under the wings and over the eye. The heron has a large, slender bill usually consisting of a pinkish- yellow hue and a long winding neck which it utilises efficiently whilst on the hunt for food and keeps retracted whilst in flight.
When hunting, herons consume virtually anything that is unfortunate enough to be present in the shallow water in which it strikes. Fish, amphibians and invertebrates make up the bulk of the heron's diet. It is also occasionally reported that herons have taken and feasted upon vulnerable, juvenile birds to supplement its usual diet, with ducklings being a prime example. Herons often adapt an almost motionless stance whilst hunting, often positioning itself at the edge of a body of water ready to strike prey in the shallows. Smaller prey is swallowed, whereas larger prey is dragged on-shore before being beaten and skewered using the heron's sharp bill.
Adult herons are rarely victims of predation. Nevertheless, eggs and young birds are at risk from larger birds such as crows or kites. Herons can also be vulnerable to a variety of parasites, with reports suggesting the species is susceptible to invasion from as many as 29 different species of parasitic worm.
Breeding takes place in the form of colonies, called heronries, which are usually located in tall trees near a body of slow-moving or still water. The same nest is repeatedly used every year until it collapses or is destroyed. Nests are often constructed using sticks and twigs, grasses and dead reeds, which the male normally collects whilst the female builds into a suitable site to lay her eggs.
Courtship is usually initiated by the male calling from the chosen nest site. Once the female has arrived, the pair begin taking part in what has been dubbed a 'stretching ceremony'. Each bird extends its neck, whilst simultaneously flexing its legs. Once a pairing has been formally established, the male offers the female a stick to incorporate into the nest. Once fertilised, the female normally lays a batch of about 3-5 eggs. Once hatched, the chicks develop a voracious appetite, before fledging the nest at about 7-8 weeks. A heron's average life expectancy numbers around the 5 year mark, although some have been recorded to survive for as much as four times that long.
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