from Madeliza
On Wednesday, I told you about our great blue heron that’s been hanging out in the pond lately. Here are a few fun facts about great blues from All About Birds:
- Despite their impressive size, great blue herons weigh only 5 to 6 pounds thanks in part to their hollow bones—a feature all birds.
- Great blue herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes that improve their night vision.
- The oldest recorded great blue heron was found in Texas. It was at least 24 years, 6 months old.
- Great blue herons aren’t likely to visit a typical backyard. However, they are sometimes unwelcome visitors to yards that include fish ponds.