Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodius

Size: 42-52"

Habitat: in and around water

Notes:
These large and majestic birds may be seen wading in the shallows, hunting fish and frogs. They are not as uncommon as you might think but watch from a distance as they do not like to be approached.



Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron

Similar but smaller all-white egrets are actually quite common. Night Herons, smaller and usually dark green or brown, prowl around boat docks and tidal flats in the dark.

White Egret
White Egret
Night Heron
Night Heron ( the neck is long, but this is normally not evident. )

Oyster

The Common Oyster Crassostrea virginica, to 10", is the basis of a major fishery, but they occur only in turbid brackish estuaries, conditions generally not conducive to scuba diving. Oysters once dominated the bottom fauna in our local rivers and bays, but are now all but extinct due to pollution and disease. Attempts are being made to reintroduce them in places, and perhaps someday even re-establish the fishery. Disease-resistant Asian Oysters may be the key to this.