Feeding habitat characteristics of the Great Blue Heron and Great Egret nesting along the Upper Mississippi River, 1995-1998

Waterbirds
By: , and 

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Abstract

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) and Great Egret (Ardea alba) nested in eight colonies along the Upper Mississippi River, USA, and individual birds were followed by airplane to feeding sites during the nesting seasons in 1995-1998. Both species used braided channel/backwater habitats for feeding more than expected, based on availability, and open pool and main navigation channel less than expected. Most individuals of both species fed <5 km from their breeding colony and avoided sites >10 km away. Habitat and distance need to be considered simultaneously when assessing habitat quality for herons and egrets. The Great Blue Heron flew farther to feeding sites during the care-of-young period than during incubation and the Great Egret showed the opposite pattern. The Great Blue Heron tended to feed solitarily; only 10% of the feeding flights ended at a location where another heron was already present. About one-third of Great Egret feeding flights ended at a location with another egret already present. Colony placement on the landscape seemed to be a function of the feeding radius of each colony.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Feeding habitat characteristics of the Great Blue Heron and Great Egret nesting along the Upper Mississippi River, 1995-1998
Series title Waterbirds
DOI 10.1675/1524-4695(2004)027[0454:FHCOTG]2.0.CO;2
Volume 27
Issue 4
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher BioOne Complete
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Description 15 p.
First page 454
Last page 468
Country United States
State Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin
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