The White Faced Herons Poem by Francis Duggan

The white faced herons common in their range
And through their life their habits little change
On pasture fields by sea or inland lake
Distinct from others birds one can't mistake.

With white on face and overall blue gray
I see them often almost every day
In country paddocks a familiar sight
Stalking for insects or standing upright.

On stick built nest high up on taller tree
They lay five eggs or sometimes four or three
And their nests remote and not too often seen
And their eggs are small a paler shade of green.

On shrimps and fish, insects and frogs they prey
And they keep the grasshoppers and mice at bay
And a friend to farmer country people say
Is the bird with yellow legs and cloak blue gray.

With white on face and overall blue gray
I see them often almost every day
And a hoarse like 'kronk' the usual call they make
The white faced herons birds one can't mistake.