The Great Blue Heron

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

This book has all the excitement of a government document—which is
what it is. The author, a research scientist with the Canadian Wildlife
Service, has devoted considerable time and energy to researching the
natural history of the great blue heron on the B.C. coast (Strait of
Georgia). But rather than write a book based on his research, he has
published his research notes.

The facts are all here: description, food, foraging techniques, social
and territorial behavior, breeding, nesting, parenting. And professional
and really keen amateur ornithologists and a handful of
environmentalists will read the dry, formal papers and study the charts
to pull out the fascinating details of the heron’s life history. But
many readers will be disappointed. Great blue has lots of fans—only
the loon can match its popularity as a symbol of Canadian tranquility.

In amazing contrast to the dryness of Butler’s text, the book
presents a gallery of a dozen dramatic color photos of great blues, by
noted wildlife photographer Tim Fitzharris. These are supported by a
generous sprinkling of color and black-and-white photos by Butler and
others. One of the book’s highlights is a single watercolor of a great
blue heron by Butler.

Although the text is not easy to read, the appeal of the subject is so
strong and so wide-spread that every birder and naturalist will
nevertheless want a copy.