Bird Calls Radio's Bird of the Day for Thursday, Aug. 11

The Bird Calls Radio Bird of the Day for Thursday, Aug. 9, is the green heron. I wrote about the green heron in a recent column in The Hour and Keene Sentinel.

I’ve always liked green herons. They show up at the small, mysterious ponds in the woods I like so much. They seem right at home stalking prey from a log jutting out into a pond.

I was surprised the first time I saw a green heron snap a dragonfly out of the air. I knew dragonflies were master insect catchers, but I didn’t think anything would be able snag a dragonfly for a meal. I’ve now seen green herons do it on several occasions.

Green herons are small as far as waders go, being dwarfed by great blue herons and great egrets. Green herons, sometimes called green-backed herons, are about the size of a crow.

All in all, one cool New England bird.

Be sure to check out Bird Calls every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. on WSTC/WNLK AM1400/1350 (in S. CT and nearby NY) or www.wstcwnlk.com from anywhere in the world (where there’s Internet access, that is.) Thanks for checking in.