GREEN HERON
SR

The green heron is a bird with many aliases. In various parts of the country it is known as "whitepoke", "chalkline", "fly-up-the-creek" and "green bittern." It is probably the best known of all herons and is often seen around the Colonial area during the warm weather months. In the winter, the awkward and slow-flying bird moves to warmer climates such as Central and South America.

Like the rest of its famiiy, the green heron is an expert fisherman, moving through the shallows in stealthy fashion. Its sword-like bill is like a cocked gun, and the bird hits its prey with the speed of a striking rattlesnake: taking fish, frogs, salamanders, small snakes and insects with ease.

When the bird flushes and flies to a perch, it immediately "freezes" and the on-looker's eye is hard put to tell the bird from a dead branch. This position is held until the intruder approaches to within a few feet.

The back of the green heron is such a dark green that at a distance it appears more like a dark blue or gray. The neck is rufous and the center of the throat white with dark streaks. Dark green head crests are raised momentarily when the bird is alarmed.

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