Herons and herrings abound

Herons are wonderful, goofy birds that stalk their prey by moving very slowly through the water.  Then with a quick snap, they capture their prey - usually a fish or a frog.  They have been known to eat gophers, alligators and other such creatures that strike their fancy.  In the northeast US, Great Blue, Black-crowned & Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Bitterns and Egrets make up most of the herons.  Their necks retract when they fly and when stalking prey, their S-shaped necks can stretch out far to snatch up food.

Each year in early spring the herring make a mad dash from the ocean to their spawning grounds in streams and lakes. The natural waterways in and out of Boston Harbor are their navigation tool and the arteries is the Mystic River. As they travel upstream to the Lower Mystic Lakes, they have to go up a man-made fish ladder. A local organization keeps track of these 10 inch long Blueback and Alewife by doing daily counts during migration.

The herring is a staple food for many birds. During the fish run, local herons can be found lining the lakes and waterways. Around May to early July, the Black-crowned Night-herons with their stubby little legs roam the water’s edge looking for these tasty fish. Their name aptly names them, as they become active at night.