LIVE GREAT BLUE HERON WEBCAM IN MARYLAND

  • Local Time
  • Location: Maryland's Eastern Shore, United States
  • Source: Explore Birds Bats Bees
  • Info: Live great blue heron webcam in Maryland, United States. The great blue herons shown are located at a blue heron rookery on Maryland's Eastern Shore. There are 10-12 nests in the rookery and up to 50 herons.
    Visit Chesapeake Conservancy for detailed information.


More info: The Great Blue Heron is the largest and most widespread heron in North America and is equally at home in coastal areas and in fresh water habitats. It is a large bird, with a slate-gray body, chestnut and black accents, and very long legs and neck and stands 3 to 4.5 feet high.

Though they are known for their excellent fishing skills, they also eat rodents, small birds, amphibians, insects, reptiles and other small creatures. When foraging, they stand silently at the waters edge, waiting for prey to come by, then they stab the prey with a quick lunge of the bill. They will also stalk prey slowly and deliberately.

Great blue herons nest in colonies which are typically found in mature forests, on islands, or near mudflats. The colonies may have just a few birds or up to several hundred. Great blue herons do best when they are free of human disturbance and have foraging areas near by. Nest building begins in February when a male chooses a nesting territory and actively displays to attract a female. The large nest is usually built high up in a tree. The male heron gathers sticks for the female who constructs a platform nest lined with small twigs, bark strips, and conifer needles. The female lays 2-6 pale blue eggs with both parents taking turns to incubate them. Chicks hatch after 25 to 29 days.