Saskatchewan · Summer breeder

Great Blue Herons in Saskatchewan

When great blue herons are present in Saskatchewan, when they nest, which native Saskatchewan plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–3b yard.

Herons and egrets (Ardeidae)Great Blue HeronArdea herodias

Status in Saskatchewan: Summer breeder
Nesting window: March–June
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 1a–3b

When to expect great blue herons in Saskatchewan

Great Blue Herons are summer residents in Saskatchewan, arriving shortly before nesting begins in March and leaving after the young are independent.

Continental — prairie in the south, boreal forest in the north.

Nesting in Saskatchewan

Across Saskatchewan, great blue herons typically nest from March–June. Plan around that window: February for setup, June for clean-out.

Warm, sunny summers.

Great Blue Herons don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, paper birch, chokecherry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native Saskatchewan plants that attract great blue herons

Of the regional native plants we track for Saskatchewan, these 8 provide food or cover great blue herons use:

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Balsam fir

Abies balsamea · Tree

Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.

White spruce

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Feeding great blue herons through the Saskatchewan year

Top foods: None — visits ponds with fish.
In Saskatchewan's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for great blue herons · Best feeder for great blue herons

Frequently asked

Are great blue herons in Saskatchewan year-round?

No. Great Blue Herons are summer breeders in Saskatchewan and leave for the winter.

When do great blue herons nest in Saskatchewan?

Nesting in Saskatchewan typically runs March–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 25–30 days.

What native plants attract great blue herons in Saskatchewan?

Bur oak, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Rabbitbrush, Balsam fir, White spruce are native plants in Saskatchewan that provide food or cover for great blue herons.

Other backyard birds in Saskatchewan

Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Yellow-rumped Warbler Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Spotted Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Fox Sparrow Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Mallard Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.