Today we spotted a beautiful heron strolling the pond. Herons are large wading birds that can adapt to almost any wetland habitat in its range. They are adaptable and may be seen in heavily developed areas as long as they hold bodies of fish-bearing water.

Connecticut’s waters are all free of ice this winter, which means that birds that need open water to forage are likely to be more common and widespread, including Great Blue Herons.

Their natural habitats are normally marine or freshwater environments of North America and adjacent agricultural fields or grasslands. The largest on all herons, these waders can be observed along all of Connecticut’s coastlines, rivers, lakes and ponds as well as most of the larger wetland habitats, though usually not in large numbers. Great Blue Herons can be found in all of Connecticut’s 169 Towns.

Mike Aurelia, The Connecticut Audubon Society