The green heron is an unusual bird. It is one of the few tool-using birds. It drops bait on the surface of the water and then grabs the small fish that it attracts. It uses such things as insects, bread crusts or other objects to lure its prey. This behavior has led some scientists to say that the green heron is among the world’s smartest birds.

It is carnivorous and an opportunistic forager. It eats fish, frogs, snails, water bugs, snakes, mice, crabs and crayfish. It grabs its prey with its long, dagger like bill. It has a dark upper mandible and a yellow lower mandible except during the breeding season when the bill is totally black. In addition, it sports a very sharp point.

The green heron is about the size of a crow. It has gray-green upper parts and its head, neck and upper breast are chestnut brown. You can find it in its favorite habitat, the wetland, and mainly at dawn or dusk. It generally stands very still on the shore in shallow water or on a log.

The green heron in these photos was seen at Wahkiakum County’s Julia Butler Hansen Refuge, where it is rare in spring, summer and fall. According to the latest field checklist for the refuge, this means that it is seen, but at intervals of two to five years. It is considered uncommon in the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and on the rest of the Long Beach (Wash.) Peninsula. Thus, it is usually present in the area but not certain to be seen.

This very smart tool-using bird is worth looking for. I challenge you to look for it. I have only seen it twice since 1992. Make notes! Was it using bait and if so what bait did the heron use? It is not an easy bird to find. Can you find a green heron? Let me know if you do!