The beautiful Green Heron has been a frequent visitor to Ayers Creek and is sighted regularly when paddling both the north and south routes. They are sometimes hard to spot, blending in with the marsh shrubs and grasses and standing statue still in search of their prey.  Adult green herons have a glossy, greenish-black cap, a greenish back and wings that are grey-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a white line down the front and short yellow legs. The bill is dark with a long, sharp point. Female adults tend to be smaller than males, and have duller and lighter plumage, particularly in the breeding season.

The Green Heron typically eats small fish, frogs, or other aquatic species, but may also eat small animals such as leeches or mice.  Many consider the Green Heron to be one of the world’s most intelligent birds. This is primarily due to its feeding method of dropping food, insects, or small objects on the water’s surface to attract fish. The Green Heron is one of the few known tool using avian species.

Keep a look out and maybe you will catch a glimpse of the Green Heron the next time you paddle on Ayers Creek.

Happy Paddling!