Blue heron decoys and grey heron decoys are generally a very cheap and easy method of deterring a new heron from your garden. It normally lives in areas that are close to small bodies of fresh water that are … What Do Green Herons Eat? Unlike their larger, long-necked cousins, green herons usually hold their necks tight up against their bodies, … Green Herons have two distinct postures. Some heron species are relatively tolerant of each other when hunting, while others are not. For instance, if 2 great blue herons approach each other too closely while hunting, the dominant one will chase the second bird away. From a distance, the Green Heron is a dark, stocky bird hunched on slender yellow legs at the water’s edge, often hidden behind a tangle of leaves. This small heron is solitary at most seasons and often somewhat secretive, living around small bodies of water or densely vegetated areas. Green herons eat small rodents and snakes as well. They are rare in eastern Washington. They are opportunistic and therefore will take advantage of what prey items are available. The birds that winter in Washington are seen rarely, from November to March, in the southwestern part of the state, up to the southern tip of Puget Sound, and along the coast. Unlike its taller cousin the great blue heron the green heron is a relatively short and stocky bird. Green Herons have two distinct postures. The green heron might not be as cranky as its cousin, the great blue heron, but it does have a trick or two up its feathers. Green herons eat other things, too. Occasionally Green Herons hunt in deeper water by plunging on prey from above. Another common bird behavior to observe among herons is social interactions. Since last Friday I have been watching my Green Heron Nest. Seen in the open, it often flicks its tail nervously, raises and lowers its crest. Green Herons are uncommon to fairly common, but local, at low elevations in western Washington from April through October. Besides minnows, small sunfish and gizzard shad, they will also eat crayfish and other crustaceans, as well as aquatic insects, frogs, tadpoles, grasshoppers, snakes, earthworms, snails and small rodents. Herons have a ‘stand and wait’ approach to hunting. [Click here to listen to their calls!] Along quiet streams or shaded riverbanks, a lone Green Heron may flush ahead of the observer, crying "kyow" as it flies up the creek. Seen up close, it is a striking bird with a velvet-green back, rich chestnut body, and a dark cap often raised into a short crest. They usually hunt by wading in shallow water. The nest is really buried and it is hard to see the chicks.