Grey heron (Ardea cinerea). The grey heron (Ardea cinerea LINNAEUS, 1785) is a bird in the family Ardeidae. Originally from the temperate regions of the Old World and parts of Africa, it is the heron with the most northerly range; in summer it can be found along the coast of Norway and even above the arctic circle. Distribution and habitat. It is widespread in the temperate zones of the Old World, excluding the arctic and desert regions. It lives in Europe, Africa and western Asia (A. c. cinerea), eastern Asia (A. c. firasa)and Madagascar (A. c. jouyi). It prefers lowland areas but it is not uncommon to find it even at altitudes over 2000 metres above sea level. In Italy it may be found in the Po Valley, mainly along the rivers and in the rice-growing areas of Lombardy and Piedmont. It is also present in the Veneto, in small lakes in the Belluna Mountains during spring and summer (for example Lake Corlo) and in the Po Delta, and in Tuscany, along the banks of the Arno and the Serchio, in the high Velino valley and Orbetello Lagoon; it is also abundant along the Tiber and its tributaries. The presence of the grey heron is associated with small heronries along the Metauro river (in Puglia) and the Esino river (in Ancona province), while many other sightings have been reported from small, temporary sites in the branches of rivers in the Marche. Gregarious,it nests in colonies called heronries, together with other species of Ardeids. Description: A heron of notable size, it reaches an adult height of 90-98 centimetres and a weight between 1020 and 2073 grammes. Its wingspan can easily reach 1.7 metres. The plumage is grey above and white below. The feet and beak are yellow. Adults have black heads and a very obvious black crest at the back of the neck that starts behind the eye and level with the top of it. Juveniles are predominantly grey. Females are indistinguishable from males except that males are slightly larger. Like all herons, it flies with its neck bent in an S-shape. Biology and Reproductive behaviour: Herons normally build nests in trees and use the same nest year after year. The nest is a large platform of branches, with raised sides that sometimes make the nest quite deep inside. Generally the male brings branches to the female, who weaves them together before lining the interior with grass. Herons nest early and may lay their first eggs as early as February. Both the parents sit on the eggs from the laying of the first one, and hatching may take some time. The eggs incubate for around 25 days. Both the male and female feed the chicks. The young leave the nest to move to nearby branches and around three weeks old and are completely independent at 40-50 days old. It is calculated that 70% of them do not survive the first six months of life; once they have passed adolescence, however, they can live up to 24 years. Feeding: Grey herons feed on fish, frogs, tadpoles, eels, invertebrates and, occasionally, even small mammals. Call: A deep and rough kraark, usually while taking flight. Frequent coarse noises, like belches, are emitted during the nesting season. Conservation status: Grey herons are threatened by water pollution from illegal sewage discharges. The number of nesting couples in Italy is estimated to be over 10,000, with an exponential increase in numbers since the 1980s. The species is protected under Law 157/92. Source WIKIPEDIA and GLI UCELLI DeAGOSTINI