• Great blue herons are stand-and-wait-predators that remain motionless for long periods of time, waiting for prey to venture near.
• Their large size enables them to feed on a variety of prey, including fish, frogs, turtles, young birds and bird eggs, snakes, and insects; also mice, moles, gophers, and other small mammals.
• Herons feed during the day or night (in lighted areas), generally within 3 miles of their colony. They tend to be solitary feeders, but where the food supply is abundant, they can be found feeding together.
• The adult heron rarely flies straight to the young, perching instead a few yards from the nest. After a few minutes, the adult goes to the nest and regurgitates predigested food. The oldest and largest chicks take most of the food share by grasping the adult's bill and catching the food.