Great Blue Heron

Erika and I found ourselves at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on 5 October 2020. Two Great Blue Herons flew into a large pond that was receding with the tide. A few other herons were present. Judging by the frenzy of the gulls, a lot of fish must have been stranded in the pond. 

As the two herons landed, they began a strange behavior, apparently the Upright and Spread Wing Display described by Vennesland and Butler (2020), This “spectacular” display occurs at heron foraging grounds. When two herons approach each other, they extend their necks and the bills are held high. The wings are drooped and held away from their bodies to expose their black shoulder patches. Often the wing nearest the other heron is dreopped lower than the other wing. This behavior usually causes the two herons to move apart, but sometimes one heron chases the other. The previously cited authors write “This display is sometimes directed towards gulls (Larus sp.), Great Egrets (Casmerodius albus), and even people.”