One of my favorite signs of spring are when the great blue herons come back into the area and begin to nest. I am lucky because there is a small heron rookery located on an island in the North Mississippi Regional Park, which is not that far from where I work.
I began watching the heron rookery in about mid March this year and I have made several trips there since. On my first trip to the park in March I was able to stand on parts of the river, along the shore, that were still frozen. By the end of March all of the ice had melted and the Mississippi river had flooded its banks. This made it more difficult to get good pics because many of the locations that had the best view of the rookery were flooded out.
On my last visit, which was April 9
th, the Mississippi had resided quite a bit and I was able to get some better pics. At this point most of the herons were paired up and going through the nesting rituals. Both of these pics are of male herons, who's job it is to go out and find sticks to bring back to the nest. He will then present them to the female, who stays at the nest, and she will use the sticks to remodel the nest.
I began watching the heron rookery in about mid March this year and I have made several trips there since. On my first trip to the park in March I was able to stand on parts of the river, along the shore, that were still frozen. By the end of March all of the ice had melted and the Mississippi river had flooded its banks. This made it more difficult to get good pics because many of the locations that had the best view of the rookery were flooded out. 
On my last visit, which was April 9th, the Mississippi had resided quite a bit and I was able to get some better pics. At this point most of the herons were paired up and going through the nesting rituals. Both of these pics are of male herons, who's job it is to go out and find sticks to bring back to the nest. He will then present them to the female, who stays at the nest, and she will use the sticks to remodel the nest.
13 comments:
I put some great blue herons on my birds blog today. I like the photos of your birds working on their nest. Mine are just posing and fishing.
I like seeing these Herons at work!
Wonderful shots. I so rarely catch these big beauties in flight.
Excellent to see them behave like this instead of being still!!! Great shots!
Great photos, I love to photograph and watch birds also. Makes me wish for another Florida trip soon.
Fantastic shots of the herons.
Beautiful shots as always. Love that you caught it in flight, I can almost hear its wings beating.
This herons are perfect on your pictures!
Beautiful with the blue sky.
Great!
Gr.
P-TER
Both absolutely great shots - the first one is just perfect the way its framed.
You got some great shots. I love to see them flying.
I have always loved seeing herons. Your images are wonderful!
I am taunted by great blues on almost every bird blog I go on. I'd just love to see this bird once, nevermind amazing captures like yours.
They were nesting here in FL a month or so ago. Isnt it amazing to see those great big birds in the tops of what looks like flimsy tree branches?
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