Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => Behaviour => Topic started by: cocosally on April 13, 2009, 10:04:38 PM

Title: It might sound silly but I want to know, about GBH
Post by: cocosally on April 13, 2009, 10:04:38 PM

I just want to know how cold can Great Blue Heron stands? The resone for this is : remember last week there were snowy days...cold and windy? the GBHs already pair up....most of them....but when I go back to check this week, it looks like less than before....is there any possibility they left and will come back? or some of them disappear because of the cold? (in other word...dead?)

I am very concerned about them..... :?

Title: They need food....
Post by: Ron Luft on April 14, 2009, 12:06:21 PM

One of the primary reasons for bird migration is not necessarily temperature but food availability. If we had insects in winter we'd have birds. If a heron can find a reliable food source IE; open, shallow water & they will over winter. I remember seeing a GBH on the Grand R. years ago in late January in an open estuary of a small creek that wasn't frozen. They can withstand quite cold temps. As with most birds their legs don't function as do ours and they aren't sensitive to the cold. Others can explain exactly why birds legs are different from an ornithological point of view. The reason 'your' GBH are absent is probably that food wasn't enough and they moved on or are off nesting or searching for a heronry. They are much better adapted to their environs than we are.

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Post by: Mathew Rossi on April 14, 2009, 07:09:32 PM

I saw a GBH in the dead of winter at some open water in Humber Bay Park. He didn't look like he was enjoying the weather but he seemed fine otherwise.

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Post by: cocosally on April 15, 2009, 07:42:47 AM

Thank you for your reply...I am still a newbie to bird watching, was just worry about them, will go back and check again this weekend. :D