Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) - local seasonal appearance

Based on 66 observations in Seymour township, Northumberland county, southeast Ontario, 1999-2003.

The earliest and latest sightings of this unmistakable bird during this 5-year period were 25 March and 05 November. This large heron is often seen in a powerful launch, great wings flapping, when he or she is disturbed during hunting along a shallow creek. At other times the heron is seen motionless, reed-like, waiting for a meal at the vegetated margin of a body of water. This bird is a common migrant and summer resident from late March to late November at Presqu'ile provincial park, roughly 40 km to the south, with extreme sightings on 11 March (1989) and 02 January (1977). They have wintered successfully in the Brighton area, but potential feeding sites generally freeze in the area of the Presqu'ile peninsula (LaForest, 1993, pp.43-44). In Peterborough county, to the northwest, the great blue heron has mostly been noted from 04 March to 02 October (Sadler, 1983, pp.38,168). Most are gone by early October, but a few have tried to overwinter, and been seen in late November, with one remarkable sighting on the Otonabee River on 14 January 1977.


great blue heron [94 kb]

References

LaFOREST,SM (1993) Birds of Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Friends of Presqu'ile Park / Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 436pp.

SADLER,D (1983) Our Heritage of Birds: Peterborough County in the Kawarthas. Peterborough Field Naturalists / Orchid Press, Peterborough, ON, 192pp.


Graham Wilson, posted 20 July 2003, updated 01 January 2004

Township Bird List

Local Info

Contents Page