Great Blue Herons
The Great Blue Heron is one of New Brunswick’s most elegant and familiar wading birds. Standing nearly four feet tall with a wingspan that can exceed six feet, these birds are a striking sight along rivers, marshes, and coastal areas throughout the province. Their slow, deliberate movements and sharp, dagger-like bills make them expert hunters of fish, frogs, crustaceans, and small mammals.
Herons are most often seen wading quietly through shallow waters, patiently stalking their prey before striking with remarkable speed and precision. Their hunting technique is a combination of patience, skill, and stealth, allowing them to catch food that other birds might miss. Watching a heron hunt is a true display of nature’s patience in action.
These birds are also fascinating to observe during nesting season. While they often nest in trees, especially in colonies known as heronries, they can also use bushes, ground sites, or even artificial structures if the conditions are right. Their nests are usually large platforms made of sticks, and you may sometimes spot these impressive structures along the river or in nearby wooded areas.
Many Great Blue Herons migrate south for the winter, but some remain in New Brunswick if the rivers and marshes remain unfrozen. Along the Saint John River near Hartland’s covered bridge, visitors who take the time to watch the river carefully might be rewarded with a glimpse of these majestic birds, either hunting or simply standing tall, surveying their watery domain.