The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a very shy fishing wader. It can be observed from a distance in the marshes and along the rivers of Europe. Protected since 1975, this majestic heron is the most common heron in Europe.
Nearly one meter high and weighing 2 kilos as an adult, the grey heron is the largest heron in Europe. This wading bird can be recognized by its size but also by its ashy gray plumage (hence its name), its white neck and its black spotted breast. Its white head is underlined by black lines starting from the back of the neck and stretching to the eye. The juveniles have the same physical characteristics as the adults but are more dull.
The grey heron has a long yellow beak which is a formidable weapon for its prey. A great hunter and fisherman, the grey heron feeds mainly on the product of its fishing in the river but also on frogs, reptiles and aquatic insects and small mammals such as mice, voles, field mice or moles. This wader, which is very common in Europe, is a partial migrant. Only in very cold weather does it move temporarily.
In some mild regions where food is abundant, the grey heron is a sedentary bird. Its heavy flight is graceful but slow (40 km / hour maximum). It can be found in some European countries such as the Netherlands, Scandinavia, England, Germany, but also further south in Portugal, Northern Italy and Greece. In France, it nests mainly in the North-East and in the vast marshy areas of the West (Poitou-Charente and Vendée).
The grey heron is a shy animal which does not let itself be easily observed up close. At the arrival of an intruder, it flies away to join a quieter corner. If this bird is generally a great loner, at the time of the mating, it joins its congeners within large colonies, the heronries, perched at the top of the trees. The nesting begins early in the season from February until July. It is the male who chooses the place where the eggs will be laid. The clutch consists of 4 to 5 light blue eggs. The two parents take turns during the 25 days of incubation. The first flight of the juveniles intervenes approximately 50 days after the hatching. The emancipation of the young is fast since in 3 weeks after the fledging, they must be able to manage alone.
