Rockport Texas - The History, Legends & Lore 1st Printing | Page 79

BLUE HERON (sp. Ardea herodias) The Great Blue Heron, it is called, and it’s a big bird that can have a 80 inch wingspan, making it is the largest Heron in North America. It will eat frogs, snakes, insects and aquatic crustaceans, but it prefers fish. They can live up to 24 years and their young can begin flying only 60 days from the time they were hatched. LORE: During the 19th Century, the Great Blue Heron was hunted for its feathers, which were used to adorn women’s hats. BLUE WINGED TEAL (sp. Anas discors) The Blue Winged Teal (also known as a Bluewing or White-Faced Teal) is a small ‘Dabbling Duck’ - known for feeding on the water’s surface instead of diving for its food. This Duck has been known to fly in an erratic manner that makes it somewhat chanllenging for Duck Hunters to shoot. They can live for up to 17 years. The Blue Winged Teal ranges all over North America, and they winter as far south as Brazil & Chile. 78