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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Grey Heron / Héron cendré
Close up of the previous shot... Reworked levels with PS, as the original had some kind of greenish haze.
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Facts
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Ciconiiformes
Family Ardeidae
Genus Ardea
Size Wingspan: 155-175 cm
Length (with neck outstretched): 84-102 cm
Status
Common and widespread. Included in the Birds of Conservation Concern Green List (low conservation concern).
Description
The grey heron is the largest heron in Europe. It has a long neck, a strong, dagger-like bill and long yellow legs. In flight, the neck is folded back, and the wings are bowed. In adults, the forehead, sides of the head and the centre of the crown are white, whereas in juveniles these are greyish. The sexes are similar in appearance.
Range
Common and widespread throughout Britain. It is known throughout most of temperate Europe, and extends through Russia as far east as Japan. It reaches south through China to India, and is also found in parts of Africa, and in Madagascar.
Habitat
Occurs in most freshwater habitats, including rivers lakes, ponds and reservoirs.
Biology
The grey heron feeds mainly on fish, which it hunts by patiently standing completely still at the side of the water, and striking rapidly when a fish comes into range. The prey is caught in the bill or speared; amphibians, small mammals, birds and invertebrates may also be taken. Feeding areas are often vigorously defended against intruders. It breeds either solitarily or in colonies, called heronries, in woodland close to water. The heronries are usually traditional sites used by successive generations. The flat nest of sticks is built in the crown of the tree early in the year, and 4 or 5 eggs are laid towards the end of March, though often earlier in mild winters. Both parents share the duties of incubation, which takes 25-26 days. The young, which are covered in down in their first days of life and are fed on regurgitated fish, fledge after 20-30 days.
Threats
The grey heron is not currently threatened; indeed it is increasing its range, and is now more abundant in Britain than it has ever been since monitoring of heronries began in 1928. This may be the result of an increase in temperature during winter, and a fall in levels of persecution.
source
http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/birds/Ardea_cinerea/more_info.html |
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