Susan A. Suarez
D.A. Olsen
Christine M. Custer
2004
<p>The Great Blue Heron (<i>Ardea herodias</i>) and Great Egret (<i>Ardea alba</i>) 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.</p>
application/pdf
10.1675/1524-4695(2004)027[0454:FHCOTG]2.0.CO;2
en
BioOne Complete
Feeding habitat characteristics of the Great Blue Heron and Great Egret nesting along the Upper Mississippi River, 1995-1998
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