Herons

The Bay is inhabited by a variety of Herons…from the Great Blue Heron to the Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron, the awkward Black-Crowned Night Heron, the Green Heron and more. The Great Blue Heron is the one I most frequently encounter in the area ponds and out on my kayak excursions. . .and from the deck at Bay Escape. As with the Egrets, I’m fascinated by their constant grooming practices. Most herons have “powder down” on their chests which breaks down into a powder which they apply to any dirt or slime. The powder sticks to and dries out the dirt/slime which they can then easily groom off using their “grooming claw,” a toe with teeth much like a comb. Clean feathers are not just a beauty regiment, clean feathers serve as insulation and help them maintain their body temperature.