March 31, 2026

[part 1]

I am a mom Great Blue Heron

My husband's out "hunting for food"

He thinks he's Prince Charming

But my kids are starving

I hope he's not up to no good...

[part 2 tomorrow, but serious caution to parents of small kids, it might be too intense for little eyes. ]

Location: Orlando Wetlands, Christmas FL

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/overview

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

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Dee at 8 a.m. Presents: Ask David Simpson a Birding Question: Episode 5: What is that Great Blue Heron doing?

In our fifth episode of Ask David a Birding Question, we bring you: What is that Great Blue Heron doing?

Enjoy! And, if you would like to ask a question either post a comment here or send mail to Dee directly. We look forward to your questions.

Location: Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area, Fellsmere

May 22, 2120

I am a Great Blue Heron

You can find me at sources of water

I hang around rivers and seashores and swamps

And in late spring, with my sons and my daughters. 

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ardea_herodias/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

February 10, 2021

I am known as a Great Blue Heron,

On the ground, I can look somewhat gangly.

But in flight I am dramatic and beautiful

Like a  film by director Ang Lee. 

Location: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, Joe Michael Memorial Trail

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/overview

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ang_Lee

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 3, 2021

I am a Great Blue Heron

I'm coming into my breeding look

Soon I'll stretch my neck and fluff up my feathers

And the girl herons will be totally hooked. 

Location: Fellsmere Grade Road, Fellsmere

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ardea_herodias/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 18, 2020

I am a Great Blue Heron

My legs are long and my body's big and round

You might think that I'm big and fat, 

But I only weight 5 to 6 pounds.

Like all birds, Great Blue Herons keep their weight down by having hollow bones.

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/overview

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 28, 2020

Location: Taylor Creek/Nubbins Slough Conservation Area, Okeechobee

I am a Great Blue Heron
Trying to have lunch but not succeeding
I'm starting to think that catfish
Are better to catch than for eating.

These pictures were taken about 45 minutes apart. The poor bird really didn't seem to have made any progress in getting his lunch down between when we first saw him and when we left him. 

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Great Blue Heron

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 23, 2020

Location: Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area, Fellsmere

I am a Great Blue Heron
My beak is sharp and thick like a dagger
It's breeding season so I'm all fancied up
And strutting my stuff like Jagger.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Great Blue Heron

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 29, 2019

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

I am a Great Blue Heron,
You can find me in marshes and occasionally pastures.
Although I am really just sunning myself,
Sometimes I look like a flasher.

Special thanks to today's guest photographer (and my sweetheart) David Simpson.

Sources: Volusia Naturalist - Hot Birds

Photo and text © 2019 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 5, 2019

Location: Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland

I am a Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias is my scientific name.
"Areda" means "heron" in Latin
"Erodiós" in Greek means the same.

Sources: Google Translate

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 3, 2019

Location: Merritt Island, Indian River

I am a Great Blue Heron
I eat fish and other small prey when I get the chance
My hobbies include combing my "powder down"
And as shown here, interpretive dance.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Great Blue Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

August 14, 2019

Location: Riverview Coffee, Tea, & Books, Sebastian

I am a Great Blue Heron
I am a carnivore
I usually eat fish, sometimes frogs or birds
And occasionally a vole or gopher.

I stopped by the bookstore to feed my habit, and this guy was staring longingly in the window the whole time I was there. It was a very hot day and I think he wanted some ice coffee!

Sources: Audubon Guide to North American Birds - Great Blue Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 10, 2019

Location: Key West

I am a Würdemann’s Heron
You might just think I'm a regular Great Blue
There is an all white Great Blue Heron subspecies,
And I'm somewhere between the two.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Great Blue Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 17, 2019

Location: Viera, Viera Wetlands

We are baby Great Blue Herons
We still live with mom in the nest.
Although our feathers help us blend in well,
Right now, they still look like a mess!

Sources: Cornel Lab All About Birds - Great Blue Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 9, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am a Great Blue Heron
Having a little lunch snack
Hey wait a minute, what the heck?
My lunch is fighting back!

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 8, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am known as a Cray-fish snake
I'm mid-sized and live in the water.
I like to eat crayfish - hence my name -
I think Herons are bully marauders.

Sources: Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Glossy Crayfish Snake (Regina rigida)

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 10, 2019

Location: Viera Wetlands

I am a Great Blue Heron
I live quietly in marshes and ponds.
Put a camera inside my house though,
And you will find I'm an attention hog!

Sources: Audubon News: Camera Trap Captures Strange, Long-legged, Pointy-beaked Panther

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 29, 2018

Location: Vero Beach Wetlands

I am a Great Blue Heron
I've got my mouth full of fish.
Of course the Great Egret and Wood Stork show up
It's everyone's favorite dish.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

August 4, 2018

Location: Lakeland, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am a Great Blue Heron
I have an intense gaze and large heavy bill.
I usually have my neck in a "S" shape,
I extend it quickly to stab what I want to kill.
But that doesn't mean that I'm cruel,
I do what I have to to keep my pot filled.

Sources: Cornel Lab - Great Blue Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

February 5, 2018

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge
Text.

I am a Great Blue Heron
Performing some personal maintenance.
It's breeding season and I want to look nice
When I mean that special acquaintance.

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson