Great Blue Herons can be seen in streams and ponds throughout Utah, standing very still as they watch for fish or amphibians. They stand over 4 feet tall. When flying, their wingspan is up to 6 feet. They tuck their long neck close to their body and trail their feet behind them.
Great Blue Herons nest in “rookeries”, or groups of nests in trees located near lakes or wetlands. A rookery may have as few as 5 nests or hundreds of nests. Each nest looks like a pile of sticks.
Heron pairs stay together for years. They often reuse their nest for multiple years, adding to it each year. The young are cared for by their parents for up to 5 months.