So Hungry I Could Eat Anything

My first year that I visited Magnolia Audubon Swamp during the mating/nesting season and was lucky enough to pick a time that the baby Great Blue Herons were just beginning to poke their heads up out of the nests.

Bad Hair Day

Courting

A face only a mother could love…

This baby Great Blue Heron is a homely soul.

Snake for lunch

Shielding the little ones.

While observing the heron rookery for several weeks, I noticed the herons sitting with their wings out, they appear to be shielding the little ones from the sun. I also noticed another interesting behavior, the nests are very close together, and I watch one heron steal sticks from the herons nest above her and tuck them into her own nest.

Heron fixing the eggs.

while observing the heron rookery, I watched this Heron gently rearrange the eggs then position herself back on the eggs.

The Rookery

Great Blue Heron Nest

Preparing for the future

A pair of Great Blue Herons building their nest in April 2016 The male was bringing the female sticks to help build up the nest.

Great Blue Heron at feeding time

These Great Blue Heron chicks have been patiently waiting all morning for their Breakfast. Finally the adult arrives and the feeding frenzy begins with everyone’s beak open and wings flapping.