Easily recognisable by its presence and elegance (which are rarely equalled), you're sure to have come across the Grey Heron in the fields, on the banks of a pond or on the shores of Lake Geneva.
If this magnificent bird looks so calm and serene from the top of its slender, statuesque posture, it is important to know that this was not always the case.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, bounties were paid for the extermination of nesting families as punishment for its crime of eating fish. Since then, it has been more or less forgiven and its numbers have grown: in Switzerland today there are an average of around 1,700 nesting pairs.
It is very fond of fish, but occasionally feeds on amphibians, small reptiles, crustaceans and even small mammals. Thanks to this relatively varied diet, the Grey Heron can be found in a wide variety of natural environments (fields, ponds, estuaries, rivers, etc.).
Its panoramic lateral vision and acute hearing mean it is not only highly responsive when hunting, but also able to flee very quickly at the slightest threat.
The Grey Heron breeds between February and July. It generally nests in colonies called "Heronries", in forests (tree tops) and in certain wetlands, where it builds a flat nest similar to a platform. On average, the female lays 3 to 6 eggs, which are incubated for up to 28 days. After hatching, and while the young are still growing, the adults take it in turns to provide food for their young, who take flight around 50 days after hatching.
Photo credits: © Kai Taimsalu
