Oh how lucky the Great Blue Heron is to get an aerial view of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden!

I was walking around the Garden today, when I saw a Great Blue Heron soar over my head and descended into the Asian Valley Pond. 

As I carefully approached the heron, I noticed that he was looking attentively at the water.  I wasn’t sure how many or how big the fish in the pond are, but then all of a sudden the heron reach down and grabbed a fairly large fish from the pond. 

A Great Blue Heron searching for a fish in the Asian Valley Pond.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of the actual catch because the heron hastily turned around (from camera view) and consumed it. I have seen Great Blue Herons in the Garden before, but I have never gotten this close to one or seen one eat a fish.  It was quite a breath-taking experience to be so near to such a graceful creature. 

I’m use to seeing herons around Virginia but I don’t know much about them.  I thought I’d share some interesting facts with you about the stunning Great Blue Heron:

• Great Blue Herons are the largest and most widespread heron in North America.

• An all white form is found from southern Florida into the Caribbean, and used to be considered a separate species, the “Great White Heron.“

• Although the Great Blue Heron eats primarily fish, it is adaptable and willing to eat other animals as well. Occasionally a heron will choke to death trying to eat a fish that is too large to swallow.

• Great Blue Herons have a seven foot wingspan and can fly 20-30 mph.

• Great Blue Herons congregate at fish hatcheries, potentially creating problems for the fish farmers. However, studies have shown that the herons tend to eat sick fish (which spend more time near the surface) that would have died anyway.

• A group of herons has many collective nouns, including a “battery”, “hedge”, “pose”, “rookery”, and “scattering” of herons.

The next time you come across a Great Blue Heron, take a minute to stop and marvel at its magnificent beauty and grace.

Lindsay Silva is a PR/Marketing intern at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden this summer.

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