The Tricolored Heron is mostly blue, with a white belly and a brownish back. Sometimes the white extends up the underside of its throat. At 26” the Tricolored Heron is slightly longer than the more common Little Blue Heron.
It has several hunting techniques that make it unique. It will fly over shallow water, dragging its feet to disturb underwater prey. Sometimes it will spread its wings over water to “canopy-feed”; that blocks light and scares prey. Sometimes it will strike at prey in the water while in flight.
The Tricolored Heron is my favorite wading bird to watch because it is so active.
Happy Birding!
PEACE RIVER AUDUBON ACTIVITIES:
• Thursday, January 1, 8 a.m., New Year’s Day Ollie’s Pond Walkabout, 18235 Avon Ave, Port Charlotte.
• Friday, January 9, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Grand Opening “Plants for Birds Garden Bed,” at Punta Gorda Nature Park, 1555 Aqui Esta Dr., Punta Gorda. Jerry & Lori Larson will present “Talk is for the Birds.”
• Thursday, January 15, 6:30 p.m. refreshments & photo contest voting, 7 p.m. program, “Brown Pelicans” by Jeanette Streker, Friends of Pelicans, at the Regional Realtors Education Center, 3320 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte.
• Saturday, January 17, 8 a.m., Sanibel Island hike. Meet at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, FL.
• Every Saturday, 8:30 a.m., Nature Walk at Audubon Pennington Park, 1153 Alton Rd., Port Charlotte.
You do not have to be a member of PRAS to join us. Participation is free, and registration is not needed. Visit the website at http://www.peaceriveraudubonsociety.org for all the details, or you can contact fellow BSM resident Rick Read, at 574-870-2695 for information or car-pooling.
