Diet: Fish, amphibians, reptiles and small mammals Habitat: Near fresh and saltwater Status: Least Concern
Great blue herons have a six foot wingspan and a long beak, neck, and legs to aid in hunting. Locally they can be spotted year round near water where they hunt on the banks or roost in trees, like the eucalyptus overlooking the San Lorenzo River mouth.
Diet: Wetlands, shoreline Habitat: Fish, amphibians, invertebrates, small mammals Status: Least Concern
These long-legged wading birds can be seen in local wetlands, and are distinguished by their yellow beaks and black feet. Great egrets almost went extinct in the 19th century due to the demand for their feathers, but conservation efforts have helped their populations recover.
Scientific: Schoenoplectus acutus Spanish: Tule Awaswas: Rookush
Tule is a salt-tolerant plant that many wetland animals use for nesting materials and food. Indigenous people also used tule to build houses and an array of items like baskets, mats and even boats. While tule can withstand periods of drought, they do best when the rhizomes are submerged in up to a foot of standing water.
