Green Heron

More from our trip to the Upper Texas Coast:  A marsh inhabitant, this Green Heron, when surprised issue a sharp, loud “skyawp”.  Most fascinating about this bird is it uses a tool.  It baits the water it is fishing to lure in its food.  It places small insects or frogs, even twigs and earthworms, in the water and then waits.  It strikes by darting its long neck grabbing the fish.

I’ve read that orange legs (and this one has orange legs) means this is a male who is ready to court.  I would like to know if such is true.

Green Herons prefer to nest in small trees or bushes over water.  And they prefer solitary nests or very small colonies to larger rookeries.