Birds Bugs and Wildlife

Missouri River Bugs – April

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last week we collected our first sample of bugs from the Missouri River below the Untouchable’s Bridge. The bugs that we collected were about what you would expect for April. Sows and scuds composed the majority of the biomass, but midges and blue-winged olive nymphs were abundant too. Somewhat surprisingly, PMD nymphs were abundant and almost the … Read more

Silly Sunday Scenery

Silly Sunday Scenery Wooden Boat, Dog, Fishing, Fall Colors

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Silly Sunday Scenery Wooden Boat, Dog, Fishing, Fall Colors Really great scenery this time of year. Truly great fishing too. A really quite good tiny baetis bite in the morning and the afternoons with overcast skies keeps those bugs glued to the water. Shaping up to be one of the better October periods in some … Read more

State of the Missouri River Craig Montana 8.26.16

State of the Missouri River Craig Montana 8.26.16

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State of the Missouri River Craig Montana 8.26.16 Bringing you the State of the Missouri River Craig Montana 8.26.16. Headhunters is the information source on the banks of the famed Missouri River. Keep it tuned here for your daily bite of trout information, education, and trout fishing entertainment. So how are we doing as we move … Read more

Missouri River Bugs – June

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Missouri River Bugs The following are some pictures of bugs from the Missouri River that were collected in June a couple miles upstream of Craig. These images will hopefully aid in your fly design and/or fly selection while you are fishing this month. Although all these images are of nymphs/larvae, PMDs and caddis are currently hatching.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_image … Read more

Freezout Lake Snow Goose Migration

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Freezout Lake Snow Goose migration occurs each spring, and is a very popular event for nature lovers in the Great Falls area. Julie and I have logged many days at Freezout – but in the fall and with guns. Never in the spring with cameras and binoculars. We decided to spend a morning checking it out last weekend with our daughter Adair. The weather was beautiful and it was a packed house. This event attracts birders and waterfowl photographers from all over the west (World?).

Adair didn’t really get it as we hiked the levies and saw some birds. We really didn’t see that many ducks and geese considering Frezzout’s fame for waterfowl production, though there are several thousand swans around. We had just about given up when we saw a large number of cars parked on the lower lake so we decided to give it a look. It didn’t take 10 minutes for a group of geese the size of a medium sized city to descend onto the lake. Then she got it.

If you’re into this sort of thing, you might check it out. It only last a couple of weeks before the Snow’s continue their journey north. if you’re in the area, head north out of Great Falls on I-15 to Vaughn, then follow the signs to Choteau/Glacier Park. Right after the town of Fairfield, you’ll run right through the middle of the Freezout Lake area. If the birds are around there will be cars up and down the shoulder of the highway.

You can drive to plenty of the viewing spots, and there is a system of levies and roads throughout the Wildlife Refuge. Some of these roads are open, but many are closed except for foot traffic. Very easy walking if you want to get a little exercise while you’re there.

Bring binoculars for sure. If you want to bring camera gear you’ll want a lens of at least 300mm equivalent. You’ll see more pro’s here with $10K telephoto lenses than anywhere outside of an NFL stadium. My 70-200 was definitely not enough on my full frame camera, though it was close on Adair’s inexpensive crop-sensor camera.[/vc_column_text][us_grid columns=”3″ post_type=”attachment” items_quantity=”” images=”18206,18207,18213,18212,18211,18210,18209″ orderby=”post__in” items_gap=”” items_layout=”gallery_default” img_size=”us_600_600_crop” overriding_link=”popup_post_image” breakpoint_1_cols=”3″ breakpoint_2_width=”768px” breakpoint_3_width=”480px” breakpoint_2_cols=”3″ breakpoint_3_cols=”2″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Punxsutawney Phil sees early Spring

Punxsutawney Phil sees early Spring

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Punxsutawney Phil sees early Spring

We have had a warm front end to the week and we see that the weather guessers think it will continue for some time. Is winter over? No, not by a long ways. But you cannot refute that Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this last week!

Remember that Phil is only right 45% of the time. Meaning, he is as accurate as your financial advisor.

I thought about the warm spring like weather this week already and decided not to feel guilty about enjoying it while it is here. I certainly want more snow in the hills this winter for more water in the rivers this summer. We all do. But why not enjoy the air temps when they touch the 60F benchmark.

Implications of Phil’s Shadow

Punxsutawney Phil
Spring is King on the MO!

If Phil is right

Then we move forward into spring early. Get out your dry fly rods and midge boxes. Clean that fly line and practice a few times in the next couple weeks to improve your accuracy. Accuracy is important when pinpointing roaming and rangy midge feeding trout. Sort of…

Back on track. If Phil is right and we see an early spring we will see an increase in water temps which will advance the bug cycle. Early Midges, BWO’s, March Browns, Caddis, on and on. Warmer weather and early run-off. This is all pure speculation at this time.

If Phil is right we will be seeing a ton more anglers early in the year. We already have seen a bunch of familiar faces and new ones too. Most are interested in trying out that two handed stuff.

Punxsutawney Phil
More snow on the way?

If Phil is wrong

Then we are back on track. We do need more snow n the hills. Our wettest months are yet to come. February is the driest of them all. March, April, May and June bring the precipitation. Although as you may remember us saying on this blog the water managers claim that the 3 week of April is the tipping point. Whatever snow is on the ground at that time is what dictates our summer flow. There is more to it than that simplistic view, but essentially that is the nuts and bolts of that equation.

Not too many years ago, our first 4 years open in Craig, we had higher than average water. Lots higher! So it is not beyond Mother Nature to turn things around in a hurry. In ’08 or ’09 it looked lean until early April. Post Missouri River Annual Water Meeting it started raining. And did not stop. That can happen. So Phil while not being a genius, or even accurate…could be wrong.

 

A coin toss is more accurate than that damn hog.

 

We do know that Montanans are out in force. Cleaning their garage. Working on projects that they did not complete in the fall. Skiing a bunch. And of course fishing on the Mighty MO! Look us up this spring on the Missouri.

We have a Spring Special starting March 15th. $350 Guide Trips offered by Headhunters through the end of April. Discounted pricing on lodging too from Craig Trout Camp beginning @ $125.

All I can tell you is that Punxsutawney Phil always fishes with Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service. 

February Fly Fishing Forecast 2016

Missouri River February Fly Fishing Forecast 2016

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February Fly Fishing Forecast 2016 We can start be saying the winter weather has left us for the next 10 days. Monday the daytime high achieved 58F. Look ahead. More to come. Today we bring you the February Fly Fishing Forecast 2016. Not a ton to report or predict as it still qualifies as a winter month. … Read more

Welcome to October

Macroinvertebrates On the Back of an Envelope

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If you like aquatic macroinvertebrates (river bugs), here are some “back of the envelope” calculations that may amuse you.
The UMOWA 2015 Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Report reported that the greatest density of macroinvertebrates occurred between the Dam and Craig. The density of macroinvertebrates averaged about 12,000 individuals per square meter.

The distance from the Dam to Craig is about 7.8 miles (12,553 meters). The average wetted channel width is roughly 100 m on this stretch of river. If we multiply these two numbers, we get an idea of the area of the riverbed above town:  12,553 m x 100 m = 1,255,300 square meters of river bottom between the Dam and Craig.

We can then multiply this number by the average number of macroinvertebrates per square meter of river bottom (12,000 individuals per square meter) to get a rough guess of the total number of bugs between the Dam and Craig:  1,255,300 square meters x 12,000 individuals per square meter = 15,063,600,000 individual bugs between the Dam and Craig. 

So between the Dam and Craig there are about 15 billion individual bugs.

The most recent MT FWP trout surveys reported that on the Craig stretch of the Missouri River there were 4,073 Rainbows and 433 Browns greater than 10 inches per mile. If we combine these two numbers, then there were 4,506 trout per mile of river around Craig. We can multiply this number by the 7.8 miles of river between the Dam and Craig to get a guess of the total number of trout between the Dam and Craig:  4,506 trout per mile x 7.8 miles = 35,147 total trout greater than 10″ between the Dam and Craig.

If there are 15,063,600,000 individual bugs and 35,147 trout, then there are approximately 428,588 bugs per trout. Now of course, these numbers are very rough and not all of the bugs are available to the trout at all times.

So if you want to impress some trout bum chicks…don’t use this information as a catalyst to the second drift boat date!

What’s the point of all this math? I don’t really have one, other than it’s kind of amazing that the flies on the ends of our lines get noticed at all with so many natural bugs around. But they do. And that’s pretty cool.

Macroinvertebrate Report from UMOWA

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On December 22, the Upper Missouri River Watershed Alliance (UMOWA) released the Baseline Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Report 2015 for the Upper Missouri River, MT, prepared by David Stagliano. The purpose of this study was to provide baseline macroinvertebrate (bug) monitoring data in order to assess the aquatic biointegrity, or health, of the Missouri River. This study is the most comprehensive study of its kind thus far performed on the Missouri River. In addition to the study’s conservation significance, it has yielded a lot of information that may be of interest to Missouri River anglers.

Study Findings:

Samples were collected at ten sites on the Missouri River between Holter Dam and Cascade, at one site near Toston, and at one site near York’s Island. A total of 93 different macroinvertebrate taxa were collected. Of these, 47 were mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies (EPT taxa) which are of particular interest to fly anglers. The other 46 taxa were midges or non-insect organisms like aquatic worms, scuds, sowbugs, or snails.

The overall density of bugs was greatest above the town of Craig with densities averaging 12,000 individuals per square meter. As distance below Holter Dam increased, there were generally fewer bugs, but a greater diversity of different taxa. In other words, there are more total bugs upstream but a greater number of different bugs downstream. Samples taken near Cascade had the greatest number of different taxa found at one site (47). On average, approximately 27 different taxa were observed at each site.

Mayflies:

There were 21 species of mayflies identified. The dominant three were BWO’s (Baetis tricaudatus), Tricos (Tricorythodes explicatus), and Pale Morning Duns (Ephemerella excrucians). The dominant mayfly at each site was determined by season and the amount of silt present in the river bottom. Trico proportions increased with silt presence whereas PMDs and Baetis generally preferred riffle habitats.

Caddisflies:

There were 19 species of caddisflies identified. The dominant caddis was the Little Sister Sedge (Cheumatopsyche) but other net-spinning caddis (Hydropsyche sp.), microcaddis (Hydroptila), snail-cased caddis (Helicopsyche borealis), and long-horned caddis (Oecetis sp.) were also common. The large orange October Caddis (Dicomoecus gilvipes) was found throughout the sample sites but most common below the Dearborn River.

Stoneflies:

There were 7 species of stoneflies identified. They were observed sporadically across the sample sites but their abundance and diversity was greatest at downstream sample sites. Stoneflies were also common around the mouths of Little Prickly Pear Creek and the Dearborn River. The stonefly species collected included Golden Stones (Hesperoperla pacifica and Claasenia sabulosa), Yellow Sallies (Suwallia/Paraperla), Spring Stones (Amphinemura), and Green-winged Stones (Isoperla). Even one Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) was observed below the mouth of Little Prickly Pear Creek.

Seasonal Trends:

The study showed a seasonal trend in the makeup of the aquatic communities. Following the spring runoff, the overall abundance of bugs directly downstream of both Little Prickly Pear Creek and the Dearborn River was very low. This was probably due to riverbed scouring by the high spring flows in these tributaries. By summer, mayflies and caddisflies were numerous at most of the sites. As hatches tapered off during the fall period, mayfly and caddis numbers dropped and non insect taxa such as sowbugs, scuds, worms, and snails made up a greater proportion of the aquatic community.

Comparison With Historical Data:

Prior to this study, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) sampled several of the same sites during the mid-2000s. Compared to their study findings, caddis numbers have decreased during the last decade while midge and sowbug numbers have increased. This change may be due to increased sediment build up combined with aquatic vegetation trapping sediments.

As UMOWA continues to sample these sites each year, anglers will have a better idea how the macroinvertebrate community in the Missouri River is changing over time. This study will also help inform future river management decisions.

 

The table below shows all of the mayfly, caddisfly, and stonefly taxa that were observed for all the sample sites. LPPC site name refers to Little Prickly Pear Creek. Boulder site name refers to riprap bank above Dearborn River. US = upstream. DS = downstream.

  • x = present but rare
  • X = common
  • XX = abundant
  • XXX = dominant

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The following figures illustrate the macroinvertebrate metric averages for all of the sample sites during all seasons (spring, summer, and fall). Errors bars are standard error (SE). Blue arrows indicate where Little Prickly Pear Creek (LPPC) and the Dearborn River enter the Missouri River. For the site names, US = upstream. DS = downstream.

EPT taxa = mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies.

Use the slider arrows to view each of the five graphs. If you would like to view these graphs in the context of the full report, click here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_image_slider ids=”16245,16243,16246,16242,16244″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

A Day on the Missouri River told through Images

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dawn til dusk. A day on the river.

Last day of September.

Tomorrow it will be October.

We love it.Click on first image for slider view.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_grid columns=”3″ img_size=”us_600_0″ post_type=”attachment” items_quantity=”” images=”14733,14736,14735,14737,14734,14731,14738,14582,14732″ type=”masonry” orderby=”post__in” items_gap=”4px” items_layout=”gallery_default” overriding_link=”popup_post_image” breakpoint_1_cols=”3″ breakpoint_2_width=”768px” breakpoint_3_width=”480px” breakpoint_2_cols=”3″ breakpoint_3_cols=”2″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

 

Birds, Bugs and Wildlife

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Cool light, cool bugs, cool bucks, and cool birds on the Missouri this week.

Last week we had the Moose around. Have not seen him since.

Mink, Muskrat, and River Otters abound as well.

Birds, Bugs, and Wildlife
Blue Heron stalking a wild trout

The fall is a great time to see all kinds of wildlife in Montana. Golden and Bald Eagles as well as the Osprey are fattening for the winter. Blue Herons are always on the hunt!

Really a cool time of the year and we are just stepping into fall. The colors are starting to move from yellow to orange to deep red. Still some green out there.

Soon, too soon, the entire river will be colored various shades of brown.

Until then we will certainly enjoy the cooler temperatures and hotter fishing. Mother Mo fishes well until about Thanksgiving. The next couple of moons are two of the best all year.

Birds, Bugs, and Wildlife
Headed toward Mountain Palace Monday afternoon

Get out and enjoy the fall season wherever you are. Oly too soon will we be spending more time on the couch than we need!

Happy Autumnal Equinox tomorrow. Fall truly has arrived. Hooray!

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Mayflies fill the fall skies

Memorial Day – Public Lands

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]During the upcoming Holiday Weekend, many Montanan’s will be out in the RV or tent enjoying our public lands. While we are not blessed with a great deal of public land in our immediate area, an hour drive can put us in the Bob Marshall wilderness, and floating USFS and BLM land on the Blackfoot. A great way to spend the Memorial Day weekend.

Memorial Day – Public Lands

This week Trout Unlimited published an excellent article by Chris Wood regarding the recent Public Lands Debate that has been a topic of discussion during legislative sessions in all Western States this year. We attended our local rally in Helena, and support the majority who want to keep public lands in the hands of the Federal Government.[/vc_column_text][us_btn align=”center” target=”_self” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tu.org%2Fblog-posts%2Fof-public-lands-and-cicada-hatches%3Fgid%3D76497″ style=”4″ label=”READ THE ARTICLE” custom_width=”200px” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-size%22%3A%2217px%22%7D%7D”][vc_column_text]You may not realize that Montana has the lowest percentage of public land in the West. Yes, that’s right. Only about 30% of the state is comprised of Federal Lands.

We do not need less.

Just a quick reminder that many organizations battle political and corporate special interests every day so that we can all enjoy the rivers, mountains and prairies of the West.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Bugs out today. Fish eating them too...

Bugs out today. Fish eating them too…

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March Browns are out and the fish are eating them.

The river is off color near the feeder creeks. Will you stay away or head into the fray?

Baetis are everywhere too. The water temps dipped during the weekend storm. Will it heat up soon?

Maybe.

Camo-March Brown Action

 

 

Caddis will come back as the daytime weather improves.

More of May ahead and more of what we like.

The dry fly game.

You wanna try?

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On the dry fly game

 

 

 

 

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.3.15

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]All is good on the Missouri River near Craig Montana. Up and down the river all of your favorite stretches are fishing well.

The wind has been haunting us for the week behind us and let us hope that it is not as prevalent as we move forward into May.

Missouri River Montana Fishing Report 5.3.15

Things to look for this month.

  • March Browns. They are here. From Craig on downwards. The trout love the dry. They are fond of the nymph too. Try a T-Head PT or any March Brown Nymph you like and a Para March Brown. We got Crips, Emergers, and Duns in stock today.
  • Baetis. The best hatch this month. Should go another couple weeks. Look for better fishing on overcast and inclement days. Pray for them. While we like the sun we also like rising fish.
  • The arrival of Caddis. Yep, this is the traditional month for the Mothers Day Caddis. Around Mothers Day? Probably.
  • The Drift Boat Drive-In Montana Fishing Film Festival @ Headhunters Fly Shop Friday Nite May 15th. Be there! The normal swag, fun, food, and beer type of party. The fun you have come to associate HH and the Missouri River with.
  • Craig Caddis Festival and BBQ Cook-Off Saturday May 16th. A big event for the entire family. The fishing is good too. See you after the day for food, music, fun, and cool stuff to buy in our live and silent auctions!
  • Slower traffic than April. May is a kick ass month for blind fishing mayflies and eighth fishing them too. Most of the HH staffers just love this month. For some it is their favorite. Yours too? It may be…ha!
  • Slower traffic than June as well. June the cork comes off. If you like to fish without as many anglers around you, then May is your time.
  • Lodging availability. Good times here @ www.craiglodging.com.

Food for thought as we get into the real season here on the Mo. Remember to be polite on the river. Have seen some real bullshit moves from boat traffic as of late. Boats running over wade fishers areas. I see boats not giving the wade angler enough room. Remember that those fellas have walked in and do not have the liberty to move like the boat does. So…give those guys some room fellas. Be polite. Don’t practice asshole boat maneuvers.

Headhunters has full stuffed bins of flies. And the ones you need the most. And the most popular patterns too. Lots of them. Some shops do not order enough flies for the season. Ninch does not like to run out. 7wt. told Ninch that is the key to fly shop success. Information, education, customer service, entertainment…and tons of flies. Ninch abides.

We’ll certainly have an impromptu BBQ later in the month, After the Caddis Fest Weekend. We will have some food on the Drift Boat Drive-In Night too. Maybe Smores?

Check out the Headhunters Logo wear that we have in stock. Over 50 logo’d hats to choose from and manufacturers hats from SAGE, RIO, Simms, Howler Bros, YETI, and mach more!

Headhunters Fly Shop keeps the longest hours on the river too. We are open at 7am and open late til 8pm. The hours will expand as the season moves into full summer swing. Your late nite shopping shop. Late shuttles too. Want to fish after 5pm? No worries. we got your back.

 

 

 

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Missouri River Baetis Image

Missouri River Baetis Image

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Check it.

Baetis are here.

Big time.

Call ahead if you need a Doctor’s Note from us.

We can totally forge one of those.

Then you can fish guilt free this week.

That Baetis Flu is going around and you got it bad.

 

 

The week ahead holds several Baetis related posts…a veritable how-to here on your Craig Montana information and education source…The Headhunters Fly Fishing Blog

Silly Saturday Scenery

Silly Saturday Scenery Midge Edition

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The midge flies are here.

Some BWO emergences that are pretty stellar too.

As Dangerous Dan Gard used to say…

Cosmic.

It really can be Cosmic. Will the weekend produce that kind of fishing?

Maybe.

As Larry or Capt. Scott used to say…

As many fish rising as there are stars in the sky?

No. Not really.

But is has been good this week. Getting better as we drift towards May.

Get out the dry fly stick and cast a little.

As Squeeky has always said…

Dry fly fishing is good for your Constitution.

Public Land Use

Peter speaks about Public Land and Wide Open Spaces

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Peter today with this post about Public Land Issues and how he feels about them. Thanks Peter for you post and opinion.

I believe that the wide-open spaces that inspired our ancestors to test themselves against this beautiful but unforgiving landscape are part of what makes our country so unique. Public access to land is a right to all! I am a proud Montanan and I believe in the importance of public land.

The love I have for this state is only equalled by my family and friends. Without public lands, “Mother Montana” and I wouldn’t even know one another…and that love would not exist.

In my opinion the access and availability to public lands is what makes Montana so special! Without that, we compromise our state, landscapes and ultimately ourselves. I am Perter Skidmore and I believe in public lands, my feelings, and my opinions.

Come down to the Montana Capitol and let our fellow legislatures know that our public lands are not for sale.

The Rally be at high noon, on February 16th in the Montana Capitol Rotunda on the second floor.

     Peter Skidmore

Peter Skidmore enjoying the use of public lands.
Peter Skidmore enjoying the use of public lands.

Rally with Montana Sportsmen for your Public Lands

 

MTRALLYPOSTERWhat: Rally for Public Lands

When: February 16th, High Noon

Where: Montana State Capitol. Second Floor Rotunda

Who: Montana Wildlife Federation, Montana Wilderness Association, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Montana Chapter of the Nature Conservancy

Why: The Transfer of Public Lands is a hot button issue this legislative session. Powerful out of state interests are wooing our legislators to pursue a dangerous and economically disastrous path that would lead to excessive litigation and ultimately, if successful – less access and more taxes for Montanans. That’s why we’re jumping back on the bus and heading to Helena to fight back and make sure that the Legislature understands loud and clear that our public lands are not a toy for politicians to play with.

The Rally be at high noon, on February 16th, 2015 in the Capitol Rotunda on the second floor.

Guest speakers are:

Steve Bullock, Governor Montana

David Allen, President and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

RSVP to attend the event here

Buses are available for citizens who wish to take advantage of them. Please RSVP for transportation by calling the Bus Coordinator associated with the town from which you will depart
GREAT FALLS

Pickup Time: 9:30AM
Pickup Location: Scheels Parking Lot, Holiday Village Mall, 1200 10th Avenue South
Contact: Casey Perkins (406) 466-2600

BUTTE

Pickup Time: 10:00AM
Pickup Location: Butte Plaza Mall, 3100 Harrison Ave

MISSOULA

Pickup Time: 9:30 AM
Pickup Location: CVS Parking Lot, 1914 Brook Street Shopping Center

Contact: Zack Porter 406) 823-0695

BILLINGS

Pickup Time: 7:00AM
Pickup Location: Cabelas Parking Lot, 4550 King Ave
Contact: Cameron Sapp (406) 702-1138

LIVINGSTON

Pickup Time: 9:00AM
Pickup Location: Albertsons parking lot, 2120 Park Street South
Contact: Jared White (406) 579-8943

BOZEMAN

Pickup time: 9:30AM
Pickup Location: Kmart Parking lot, 1126 N. 7th Ave
Contact: John Todd (406) 404-1000

Here is the link to the Public Lands Backcountry Hunters & Anglers site.
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Wednesday Great Blue Heron

Thursday Great Blue Heron

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We see the Great Blue Heron on Montana’s Missouri River corridor nearly daily. They do not go too long without a meal on this 4 season river. I’ve seen them get many fish. Juvenilles, teens, and a few adults. Once, a snake. Yep. They dig the reptiles.

Much of this information come from the cool site All About Birds Great Blue Heron. Check it here if you want even more information about the GBH.

Cool Blue Heron Facts

  • Thanks to specially shaped neck vertebrae, Great Blue Herons can curl their neck into an S shape for a more aerodynamic flight profile and to quickly strike prey at a distance.
  • Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray. The herons comb this “powder down” with a fringed claw on their middle toes, using the down like a washcloth to remove fish slime and other oils from their feathers as they preen. Applying the powder to their underparts protects their feathers against the slime and oils of swamps.
  • Great Blue Herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes that improve their night vision.
    Despite their impressive size, Great Blue Herons weigh only 5 to 6 pounds thanks in part to their hollow bones—a feature all birds share.
  • Great Blue Herons in the northeastern U.S. and southern Canada have benefited from the recovery of beaver populations, which have created a patchwork of swamps and meadows well-suited to foraging and nesting.
  • Along the Pacific coast, it’s not unusual to see a Great Blue Heron poised atop a floating bed of kelp waiting for a meal to swim by.
  • The white form of the Great Blue Heron, known as the “great white heron,” is found nearly exclusively in shallow marine waters along the coast of very southern Florida, the Yucatan Peninsula, and in the Caribbean. Where the dark and white forms overlap in Florida, intermediate birds known as “Wurdemann’s herons” can be found. They have the body of a Great Blue Heron, but the white head and neck of the great white heron.
  • The oldest Great Blue Heron, based on banding recovery, was 24 years old.
  • Great Blue Herons congregate at fish hatcheries, creating potential problems for the fish farmers. A study found that herons ate mostly diseased fish that would have died shortly anyway. Sick fish spent more time near the surface of the water where they were more vulnerable to the herons.

Habitat

  • Great Blue Herons live in both freshwater and saltwater habitats, and also forage in grasslands and agricultural fields, where they stalk frogs and mammals. Most breeding colonies are located within 2 to 4 miles of feeding areas, often in isolated swamps or on islands, and near lakes and ponds bordered by forests.

Food

Fish

  • Great Blue Herons eat nearly anything within striking distance, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects, and other birds. They grab smaller prey in their strong mandibles or use their dagger-like bills to impale larger fish, often shaking them to break or relax the sharp spines before gulping them down.

Nest Placement

  • Great Blue Herons nest mainly in trees, but will also nest on the ground, on bushes, in mangroves, and on structures such as duck blinds, channel markers, or artificial nest platforms. Males arrive at the colony and settle on nest sites; from there, they court passing females. Colonies can consist of 500 or more individual nests, with multiple nests per tree built 100 or more feet off the ground.

Behavior

  • Great Blue Herons forage, usually alone, across much of the U.S. This largest of the North American herons wades slowly or stands stock still, peering into the water for prey. In flight the Great Blue Heron folds it neck into an “S” shape and trails its long legs behind, dangling them as it prepares to land or when courting. Breeding birds nest in colonies that can number several hundred pairs, where they build stick nests in trees, on bushes, or on the ground. If you visit a colony, look for elaborate courtship and pair-bonding displays that include a ritualized greeting, stick transfers, and nest relief ceremony in which the birds erect their plumes and “clapper” their bill tips. Pairs are mostly monogamous during a season, but they choose new partners each year. Away from the colony, Great Blue Herons defend feeding territories from other herons with dramatic displays in which the birds approach intruders with their head thrown back, wings outstretched, and bill pointing skyward. Gulls and even humans may also be a target of this defensive maneuver.