Occasionally, Rick Blom and I would observe Great Blue Herons floating, if
not swimming, at Conowingo (Dam) Fisherman's Park.  When the turbines were
generating electricity, the Great Blues would fly upstream towards the base
of the dam, land in the water just downstream of the very turbulent water,
and then float downstream in the current while picking dazed gizzard shad
from the water that had gone through the turbines.  After the herons had
floated downstream of Rowland Island, they would take off from the water,
fly back upstream to the base of the dam and repeat the cycle all over
again.

The Herons Handbook (James Hancock and James Kushlan - 1984) says, "Once in
the water, all herons can swim.  While 'Swimming Feeding', a heron floats or
swims on the surface of the water stabbing at or picking up prey.  The Great
Blue Heron, Goliath Heron, Great White Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron
are known to swim with some frequency."  The Great Blue Heron "often uses
such behaviours as . . . 'Swimming Feeding' to forage in even deeper water
than its leg length would allow."

The other interesting behavior that Rick and I often observed at Conowingo
was Herring Gulls perched on the high tension electric wires.  This behavior
was quite common.

Gene Scarpulla
Millers Island, Maryland



----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe McDaniel" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 5:28 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Great Blues Swim?


I know that Great Blue Herons wade, but we had a juvenile that was either
wading in really deep water in the pond behind us or swimming. I could not
tell for sure whether he was still wading or swimming, but the body was
about 1/2 submerged. So, do they swim?

Best,

Joe McDaniel
Monrovia, MD