The mouth of Patten Stream was churning with alewives on Wednesday afternoon (July13) as the tide from Patten Bay rose high. It was raining, which cast the scene darkly and made it difficult for this young Great Blue Heron to cross the slippery rocks and get into a good fishing position.
Great Blues are our largest and most regal Herons (that is, they’re “Great”), but they’re considered to be a “Species of Special Concern” by Maine wildlife officials. That’s primarily because their coastal breeding populations have shown significant declines in recent years. This loss appears to be at least partly due to an increase in predatory Bald Eagles and proprietary human beings along the coast.
Although they may be Great, GBHs are among our skinniest birds, as you can see here. They can reach almost five feet in length, but usually weigh much less than eight pounds. While slow and awkward on their feet, they can achieve a respectable air speed of about 30 miles per hour.
Leighton Archive Image
(Images taken on July 13 in Surry, Maine, except for the in-flight Archive one.)