I am linking up with World Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes
This is the third year in a row that the Herons have returned to nest in the same area and trees in my neighborhood. Even my neighbors are getting into seeing and hearing the herons.
Above are three of the herons flying above the pine trees in my yard. I believe there is more than one heron nest, since I have seen more than one heron at one time. I can always tell a heron in flight with it's long bill, neck and those long legs hanging out the back.
I was able to make a short video while I stood watching the heron from my deck.
They do make the weirdest noises. I have watched one heron in the trees across from my driveway. The heron was breaking off branches to take back to it's nest. It is amazing that these large birds actually nest in the tree tops and not down on the ground. When the heron got back to the nest with the stick, I heard a lot of squawking, I believe it was the female saying "about time you got home" HaHa!
The heron seemed to be picky about what branches it wanted. sometimes breaking off a branch only to drop it and try for another one it liked better.
It looks like progress is being made on the one nest I was able to find. I do believe there is more than one. Above you can see the Heron butt and underside while it was bent over re-arranging the sticks on the nest.
The Great Blue Heron usually nest in colonies which is called a Rookery. The Herons are smart building their nest in colonies, it guarantees that the nest will be watched and protected by another heron. The first year we heard the squawking and squabbling we were not sure what was going on until I started seeing the herons flying to and from the nest. I read that 3-5 eggs are laid in the nest and by 8 weeks 1-4 of the chicks survive. The chicks start testing out their legs by walking near the edge of the nest and stretching their wings. The Great Blue Herons can live until the age of 17.
To see more beautiful birds check out Springman's World Bird Wednesday and Michelle's Nature Notes
This is the third year in a row that the Herons have returned to nest in the same area and trees in my neighborhood. Even my neighbors are getting into seeing and hearing the herons.
I was able to make a short video while I stood watching the heron from my deck.
They do make the weirdest noises. I have watched one heron in the trees across from my driveway. The heron was breaking off branches to take back to it's nest. It is amazing that these large birds actually nest in the tree tops and not down on the ground. When the heron got back to the nest with the stick, I heard a lot of squawking, I believe it was the female saying "about time you got home" HaHa!
It looks like progress is being made on the one nest I was able to find. I do believe there is more than one. Above you can see the Heron butt and underside while it was bent over re-arranging the sticks on the nest.
The Great Blue Heron usually nest in colonies which is called a Rookery. The Herons are smart building their nest in colonies, it guarantees that the nest will be watched and protected by another heron. The first year we heard the squawking and squabbling we were not sure what was going on until I started seeing the herons flying to and from the nest. I read that 3-5 eggs are laid in the nest and by 8 weeks 1-4 of the chicks survive. The chicks start testing out their legs by walking near the edge of the nest and stretching their wings. The Great Blue Herons can live until the age of 17.
To see more beautiful birds check out Springman's World Bird Wednesday and Michelle's Nature Notes
47 comments:
It is so good that you are getting closer to these herons.
Wonderful photos. Very neat to see a nest.
Very nice photos of the heron! And great information on them...I have never been lucky enough to see the nest - but I am always happy when I get to see the birds! You have some wonderful close shots!
yes I saw the Heron butt...loved watching the Heron fly away...made me wish I had wings...
I finally saw a heron last summer, but I didn't have my good camera with me. I can't imagine them flying - they look so big.
How wonderful for you to be so close to them and watch their nesting progress. I agree with you, one would think they would nest closer to the ground, but they must have their reasons!
Loved seeing the Herons, Eileen. We have them, here at the lake and we had them on our farm pond. Never got close to them though. I heard one this morning, when I was shooting the sunrise from the deck. It's one of those sounds I will always associate with our place here.
so glad you've got nesting activity nearby. we get them here all year round but i've never seen their nests.
So lovely to view nature right so close to you. Your world is wonderful.
Hi Eileen...How lucky for you to be in the observation seat, and not have to go anywhere!!
Looks like you are going to have a fun time watching for the chicks to appear....great shots and video!!
Grace
A wonderful and interesting post with very nice photos...
Thanks for sharing ...
Best regards, Karin
Wonderful to have the rookery where you can see it every day -- almost right in your own backkyard. My walking group, back in Oregon, walked past a G-B rookery often so we could watch the progress, but I never did make it every day (although I always wanted to). thanks for sharing -- I loved this.
Interesting video, Eileen--they are so graceful, aren't they? Just noticed you have a Golden Retriever--looks so sweet, just like our Barley.
How neat to see all that nesting activity with the herons. Loved the video too, thanks Eileen.
I love the photo of the heron in the tree! Such a fantastic shot.
Wonderful post, Eileen. The second photo of the heron amongst the branches is amazing!
Great sequence Eileen!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Although I have seen many blue herons, I have NEVER seen their nests except in photos!
Very interesting post about Herons, they are facinating birds to watch.
Very good heron photos! Perfect post for WBW!
Great shots of the Great Blues Eileen! It must be exciting to watch them building their nests and watching the chicks grow. Thanks for the cool video showing them breaking out the sticks too.
These photos are really impressive!
Hi Eileen, So glad you have the herons nearby. The Great Blue Herons are interesting to watch and I enjoy seeing them around here when they hunt. I sort of think of their sound as similar to a distant dog bark or a muffled "Cup-cup" kind of squawk sound. Have a super good day tomorrow!
Terrific video Eileen!
I think I saw a heron fly by my sunroom window this past weekend. We have a few ponds in the area so I'm keeping my eyes open.
You must be so excited to have them so close.
Keep us posted!
That sure must have been awesome watching them get the nest together. An exciting experience for you.
Nice to have the herons so close! Several years ago a pair hung out at the lake in Baker Park.
That is awesome, Eileen! I have to say I'm a bit jealous that you have them nesting nearby!
Very interesting photos. I hope you can keep watching the herons and then keep sharing the photos.
Hi Eileen,
Interesting photos and video! A bird that I always confuse with our Grey Heron, they look so similar!
J
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How wonderful to see the birds building their nests. Great captures, as always!
Wow! Exciting to have them nesting right there. These are really good photos as well. I wonder how big the eggs will be?!?
the heron is a wondrous bird
a bit like tiny dinosaurs :)
there are a few living by a creek near me but I have never been able to catch them doing anything but sitting and looking regal
your shots and video are great!
wonderful series of photos, I love to take photos of the herons
What beautiful captures. Lucky you to be able to have seen them and photographed them.
We don't have blue herons only grey ones. These are great photos along with the video clip. Herons nesting in tree never seems quite right, I agree with you.
Are you watching the Cornell Heron cam Eileen? These are amazing shots you got and the video of taking the sticks and they only weigh about 5 pounds...they do a bark I've heard, not a sweet call...Michelle
Lucky you to have had this wonderful opportunity.
i have never seen their nests before!! wow! so nice to have so many herons close by!!
and i never realized they can live to be 17!!!!
it'll be so exciting if you can see the young chicks!!
terrific pictures!
so great to have those beauties close by. Lot of opportunities to study them.
How wonderful to have them nesting so close to you! Great shots of the nest-building activity.
Wonderful shots of the great blue heron.
oh i really LOVED the video, the sounds were super cool. i have never seen a heron in the trees, behaving that way!!
you got some beautiful flight shots!!
Great pictures and wonderful information!!!
Beautiful Heron pictures.
Oh how lucky you are to be able to observe the nest building behavior of herons. I would love seeing such a thing. My fingers area crossed for many successful broods. Terrific photographs, Eileen!
What a lovely sight to see. You are so lucky to have them so close to you!
hi eileen this is a beautiful set of photos!!
i really like the one with the tallest hotel. so inspiring!
the heron shots are great, too.
wish you and yours a happy and blessed easter!
xo
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