Great Blue Heron
When the Thompson River rises, the floodland channels are rich in wildlife. After 5 visits to the Tranquille Wildlife Protection area, we spotted great blue herons on each trip. There are either 2 or 3 pairs in the area. They are easy to spot when they fly overhead. We also observed (and videotaped) herons in the shallows searching and finding small fish.
Herons will overwinter on the coastal areas, but herons seen in the Interior may also migrate south to warmer climates, especially Mexico for breeding. They are the largest herons of the country, standing 4 feet high. The wingspan is in the range of 6 feet. Its call is a harsh croak when disturbed. It feeds on small fish, and any other aquatic life in the shallows. I have once witnessed a heron spearing a small frog with its bill and then swallowing it whole.
Herons breed in heronries of 5-500 nests. Females lay up to 6 eggs which take about 28 days to hatch. The chicks grow quickly, but predators like the golden eagle, bald eagle, and red-tailed hawks thin the numbers.
When we are hiking or paddling, we always stop to observe the great blue herons. Although we have seen them in many locations(usually May to September), our favorite is at the head of Kamloops Lake.