Adept in fresh water and salt water alike, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight to behold. We often see it standing motionless for long spells at a time but it is definitely not asleep, rather patiently blending in to its environment scanning for its doomed prey. Although its' slow, deep wing beats look slow and purposeful, it can strike with lightning speed and accuracy.

It is one of the largest of the North American herons. It appears blue-gray from a distance but has many shades and can actually be seen as pure white in Florida. They live in a variety of environments from lakes, rivers, marshes and sloughs to grasslands and agricultural fields. That is why they love Vancouver Island.

They are great fishers and have been known to choke to death on fish that are actually too large for them to swallow. Although fish are their mainstay, they enjoy mice, insects and other small creatures to bring some variety to their diet. Tall trees are their preferred habitat, but can been found in low shrubs. Although they hunt alone they live in colonies. The female will lay anywhere from 2 – 7 eggs which both parents will protect and incubate.

From our First Nations friends we learn that the Blue Heron brings messages of self-determination and self-reliance. The ability to progress and evolve are two of the gifts they teach. Another wisdom they impart is that you don't need two massive pillars to anchor you but rather learn to stand on your own. If they had a motto it would be, 'Follow your heart, create your own circumstances.' The Blue Heron symbolizes patience, grace, balance, elegance, and determination.