Bird Walk: Blue Herons

Meet at the Welcome Center parking lot. Join local birders to gather long-term data on the presence of birds, their abundance, and changes in populations. Appropriate for birders of all skill levels, the walks run along uneven terrain on forest and meadow trails and around the main house. No registration required. Questions? Contact Stephanie at (802) 367-7960.

It might seem strange to profile the blue/gray Great Blue Heron in November, but these birds are hardy and will stay around as long as there is open water for feeding on fish, frogs, cray fish, small rodents, turtles — anything within reach of their long, spear-like bills and long necks. The long legs match the long bills enabling herons to stalk tall along the edges of the waters and strike their quarry with incredible accuracy and speed. Their long necks have a special vertebra to help with bending and flexibility that allows…