Pictures and Information for The Great Blue Herons in Stanley Park

The Great Blue Heron is a wading bird native to North America.

I recently saw a few while on vacation to Vancouver.  We saw one on the ocean, but noted another who lived in Stanley Park, in fact I am sure we saw the same bird three days in a row on our walks in Stanley Park every time we went to the beautiful Lost Lagoon area.

You may have already read about the cute raccoons we saw in Stanley Park too.

Great Blue Herons are the largest of the herons, and I would not call them blue, but they are more of a silver gray color.  They have a long “S” shaped neck that they often keep swashed against their body.

We observed the one Great Blue Heron bird often standing on a log.  We watched as he (or she) stood patient and then plunged in for a fish.  We actually saw the bird catch two fish, but it was so fast that it was impossible to photograph.

One day the Great Blue Heron was not on the log, but was standing on a nesting box (for another species of bird) out in the water, and it swooped in and landed on its log.  I was lucky to get a photo of this bird in mid-flight.  The wing span was at least 6 feet (just under 2 meters). 

From what I have learned since, most of British Columbia’s Great Blue Herons live in the Vancouver area, where they are considered a “Species at Risk” although world wide their populations are strong. 

Because of the concern for Vancouver’s Great Blue Heron population there is an “Adopt a Heron Nest” program, so that concerned nature lovers can help protect these birds.

From what I have learned since, most of British Columbia’s Great Blue Herons live in the Vancouver area, where they are considered a “Species at Risk” although world wide their populations are strong. 

Because of the concern for Vancouver’s Great Blue Heron population there is an “Adopt a Heron Nest” program, so that concerned nature lovers can help protect these birds.

I wish I had a better camera!  In addition to the Heron, and earlier mentioned raccoons, we also saw turtles, which were not native to Vancouver and must have been illegally released pets.