Nesting and feeding areas are important to the survival of these birds. They need large amounts of fish and other aquatic life to feed their young. Herons may fly 40 miles round trip to find food to feed their young. They are large, standing 48 inches tall. They are slate gray, with white heads and a broad black stripe above the eye.
Great blues like to nest in tree tops.
They have three to six young per nest. Often they use the same nest year after year, adding sticks until the nest becomes very large. Flying overhead, great blue herons are often mistaken for cranes. To tell them apart, look at their neck. These birds stand about 38 inches high.