Nature Corner: Part 1 - A Long-Legged Sign of Spring: Great Blue Herons

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 04/15/2025

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

Today we returned to the rookery (where you’ll find a group of nests close together) in Gilford and were delighted to see all six nests had herons in them.

The female will lay between 3-5, pale blue eggs and both males and females take turns incubating the eggs which take from 25-30 days. The joint parenting continues as both parents feed the young through regurgitation during the nesting period which lasts between 65-90 days. In our part of the country, Great Blue Herons have one brood per year.

Cool Facts:

Despite their huge size, they only weigh 5 to 6 pounds. Like all birds, they have hollow bones.
The population of Great Blue Herons has benefited from the resurgence of beaver populations who create a network of ponds and swamps where the herons can feed.
These herons can hunt at night as well as during the day, due to special photoreceptors in their eyes. In addition, they have excellent binocular vision with antiglare protection and incredible depth perception.
Great Blue Herons have specialized neck structures. The vertebrae have been modified to allow them to curl their necks into a curvy S shape, allowing them to forcefully and quickly strike their prey.

To discover more about these amazing birds:

Great Blue Heron Identification

Great Blue Heron

A Long-Legged Sign of Spring: Great Blue Herons

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 4/8/2025

Nature Corner: Part 1 - A Long-Legged Sign of Spring: Great Blue Herons

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

This past weekend, we ventured out to a local pond and discovered to our delight that it was a rookery for six Great Blue Herons, who have returned from their yearly migration south. These statuesque birds are the largest of the North American herons and are easily recognized with their long legs and neck, sharp bill and shaggy plumage.

Their ability to stand completely still, slow meandering stride and leisurely, undulating flight patterns seem to deny the fact that they are lightning fast when spotting prey, swiftly stabbing their prey with their dagger sharp beaks.

Males arrive first in the spring, choose nest sites usually in the trees, and then make the effort to attract later arriving females. The nest building is a joint effort, with the males gathering the nest material and giving them to the female. She then builds the cup-shaped nest and lines it with pine needles. This process can take from 3 days up to 3 weeks.

One interesting fact is that the shaggy plumage serves a purpose. These specialized feathers continually grow and fray. Using a specific fringed claw on their middle toes, they comb down feathers and remove oils and slime from fish as they preen.

Part 2 in next week’s Nature Corner will explore more about these amazing birds.

Nature Corner: The Dangerous Impact of Windows on Birds

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 4/1/2025

A recent question from a friend wanted to know “why a female cardinal kept pecking at their window, and what they could do about it”. This behavior is more prevalent in spring as breeding season involves territoriality, where birds establish their territories from competitors to raise their young. The bird sees their reflection in the window and attacks it. But seeing the reflection is just one indication of a greater problem.

Windows are a major deterrent to the avian population. During the day, windows reflect the image of skies and trees and the birds fly into them thinking they are safe passageways. At night, collisions occur because lighted windows distract them from their original migration paths, especially when it’s foggy or in low areas. One 2014 study determined that over 1 billion birds die a year from window strikes.

Considering the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report, where data has shown that now more than 1/3 of U.S. bird species are of high and moderate conservation concern, protecting them from collision crashes can be one way to prevent more loss. According to Audubon, here is a list of solutions that have shown to be effective in safeguarding our windows.

To discover more about bird window collisions and what you can do about it, visit Cornell Lab's All About Birds.

Nature Corner: The Critical Value of Vernal Pools

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 3/25/2025

As the days get warmer and snow melts, a seasonal phenomenon occurs that is critical to the survival of amphibians and a variety of plants. These are Vernal Pools, which are wetlands of shallow water that can completely disappear during most of the summer and fall.

These “pools” can be as small as a small puddle, all the way to a shallow lake. Beneath these wetlands, there is either bedrock or a layer of hard clay to keep the water from draining out.

These value of these pools cannot be underestimated. They provide a critical habitat for both plants and animals. During the dry seasons, animal eggs, plant cysts and seeds lay in waiting. Once the pools once again fill with water, they can grow and reproduce. Eggs and larvae are protected from fish predators as there aren’t any in these ephemeral water bodies.

In the state of New Hampshire, vernal pools are protected from “unregulated alteration” by the NHDES Welands law and rules.

To discover more:

Critical Habitat

Vernal Pools

Nature Corner: Feeding the Birds Responsibly

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 3/18/2025

Feeding the wild birds is a popular hobby, both globally and in the US where over 57 million people routinely participate. Bird feeders give the viewers a chance to enjoy watching feathered neighbors and connect with the natural world in their own backyards.

But along with the enjoyment, there needs to be a sense of responsibility to make sure we’re not negatively impacting our native birds, especially during the challenges of Avian Flu and other diseases. One important step to protect native birds is to make sure our feeders are bacteria and mold free.

Audubon recommends these easy steps to prevent the spread of any type of disease. Cleaning Your Feeder: Regular cleaning (twice a month) keeps your feeder safe for birds.

Dispose of uneaten seed rather than dumping it on the ground. Leftovers can attract pests.
Scrub with soap and water (for hummingbird feeders, skip the soap), followed by a 15-minute soak in a 50-50 vinegar-and-water solution to sanitize. Alternate: Use a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water, and let it air dry before refilling.
Remove any residue with a thorough water rinse. If yourfeederis dishwasher-safe, let your appliance’s soap and hot water do the work.
No matter how you clean, let the feeder completely dry before refilling it with food. Moisture is a sure way for fungus or bacteria to flourish.

To discover more:

Share in the Joy of Bird Feeding: Bird Feeding Basics

How to Feed Birds Safely This Winter