The Great Blue Heron is a year-round resident along the Missouri River corridor. Standing nearly 4 feet tall, it hunts by wading slowly in shallows and striking fish with lightning speed. Often seen standing motionless on the riverbank just downstream from the Katy Trail. A pair has nested in the cottonwoods east of town for at least a decade.
Great Blue Heron
Missouri River banks and backwater areas
Ardea herodias
- Habitat: Riverbanks, wetlands, and shallow water edges
- Season: Year-round (most visible spring–fall)
- Where to find: Missouri River banks and backwater areas