Herons Return to Colony Despite Nesting Owls

Last Wednesday I took to the field to check out a great blue heron colony that I have only seen once during an aerial survey in 2009.  Since then, a volunteer has been monitoring the colony on the ground.  I finally made personal contact with the landowners this

HERON Volunteers Can Help With Research on Great Blue Heron Productivity

[caption id="attachment_832" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Molly Meserve is a graduate student at the University of New England."][/caption] Hello, my name is Molly Meserve and I am a graduate student at the University of Ne

Rescue, Rehab and Release of a Great Blue Heron

The following was written and shared by Diane Winn of Avian Haven, one of the largest bird rehabilitation practices in New England.  Located in Freedom, Maine, they have treated over 12,000 birds comprising over 100 species. [caption id="attachment_783" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Great Blue Heron found injured at Cobbosseecontee Lake.

Monitoring Maine's Great Blue Herons - Three Years and Counting...

Photo by Ron LoganView a slide

HERON Volunteer View: Great Blue Herons Caught on Video

Photo by Deb DuttonJune is when nestlings appear in most great blue heron colonies in Maine.  In Maine,

HERON Volunteer View: FOOD FIGHT

[caption id="attachment_662" align="alignleft" width="239" caption="An adult great blue heron arrives ready to feed its nestlings.

Heron Trash Can Be a Researcher's Treasure

[caption id="attachment_380" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Remains found beneath heron nests.

Nestlings Abound

[caption id="attachment_344" align="alignleft" width="241" caption="Five nestlings, all around 4-5 weeks old."][/caption] [Be sure to click on a photo for a larger view.] Can you imagine raising 5 children in a 1-room apartment?  For great blue herons, it’s not all that uncommon.  In g

Land Trust Sponsors Program on Damariscove's Sea Birds

      [caption id="attachment_290" align="alignleft" width="295" caption="Two black-crowned night-herons on Damariscove Island."]

Keep Watch for Early Birds

It is March 2nd, and although I received 3 inches of snow 2 nights ago at my home, it was wet and heavy snow and had melted by noon.  The wind is blowing, but it is relatively warm air, sending me a hint of spring with every gust.  Birds are starting to move.  Recent observations of FOY (that’s “first of year” in case you’re not a birder) osprey and turkey vultures remind me that great blue herons will return to Maine within a few weeks’ time.  If my memory is correct, the first great blue heron that was reported on the Maine Birds List in 2009 was on March 12th in Brunswick.  Two