If you’re into heron watching along the Boise River, don’t forget to look up. Great blue herons love trees. They hang out in trees. They nest in trees. This one was spotted along the Boise River near the Americana bridge. Great blue herons are found all across the United States and they are year-round residents of southwest Idaho. Guess they like the open rivers and marshlands for finding food. Herons primarily eat fish, but according to the Cornell University All About Birds Web site —www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds — “voles (mice) were a very important part of their diet, making up nearly half of what was fed to nestlings in Idaho.” Keep looking up if you’re looking for herons.
Pete Zimowsky/ pzimowsky@idahostatesman.com