By Julia Magsombol
Local Journalism Initiative
Birds represent freedom as they can fly high up in the sky, but they are also seen as determination and strength to Indigenous communities. The great blue heron is a good example.
You might be wondering why herons are called “blue” herons. It’s their unique appearance; they have blue-grey feathers.
It’s not only the colours that are noticeable on the blue heron, it’s their height, measuring about one metre; the height of your door knob. They are one of the unique types of heron in North America. They have long, thin necks and legs, and they have a yellow-orange beak. They have a large wingspan, measuring from 1.6 metres to two metres. Herons can fly up to 55 kilometres per hour. Blue herons are also quite heavy, weighing from two to three kilograms. They have bright yellow eyes as well.
Blue herons are carnivores, meaning they only eat meat, mainly fish, amphibians, insects and other small animals.
Blue herons can usually be found in the Maritimes to British Columbia. In the fall, they head south. But the ones living on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts stay year-round. Some travel farther north for the summer right after breeding season. They can usually be found in meadows and shallow water at the edges of lakes, streams, rivers, ponds, and mudflats.
With their long legs, herons can stand completely still and wait patiently for their prey. They usually swallow their prey in one gulp. How can they gulp their large prey when they have thin throats and necks? First, they grab their prey using their large and strong beaks. They use this to stab their prey. This action is known simply as a ‘bill stab.’ While their prey hangs in their beaks, they shake them to break their spines before gulping them down. What’s unbelievable is they can swallow fish much wider than their narrow neck. It is said that patience and speed are the keys to their hunting success.
Blue herons mainly breed in colonies. They build their nests out of sticks. These nests measure up to one metre.
Surprisingly, there are about 5,000 to 6,000 blue herons living in B.C. But the number of herons is decreasing. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has designated the blue heron as vulnerable, meaning they are threatened with extinction unless the situation changes.
In some Indigenous communities, blue herons represent determination and resilience. They are seen as good luck charms for successful fishing. The heron is also a symbol of grace, elegance, and patience, and considered skilled hunter-gatherers.
In the North American Native tradition, they represent an ability to progress and evolve due to their long, thin legs. It represents that an individual doesn’t need massive pillars to remain stable but must be able to stand on one’s own —this is strength, and this is how blue herons are seen in their communities.
