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Monarch caterpillar

Mass Audubon State of the Birds

Find Bird Groups

Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias

The stately Great Blue Heron is widespread, nesting in open swamps and beaver ponds all across the state except Cape Cod. It increased steadily throughout the mid-to-late 20th century, with a notable increase in the last 30 years.
Conservation Status
No Action - Strong Increase

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Least Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.52
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.52
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
0.00
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
6.60
National Audubon Societyb
n/a
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
64
Atlas II Blocks
480
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
6
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
46
Percent change
700

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
5.1%
P-value
significant, increasing
Number of routes
24
Recent trend 2000-2010
5.2%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
3
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1963-1979)
11
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1979-2008)
1
Significantly different than zero
no
Christmas Bird Count Sightings By Year
Data reflects sightings per person per hour in order to account for varying numbers of yearly volunteers.

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Forested Wetland, Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds

Wintering

Open Freshwater Marsh, Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds, Saltmarsh

Climate Suitability Current and 2050