10 day old Great Egret chicks: About 10 day old Great Egret chicks. First born have an excellent chance of fledging. First born are going to be able to reach up further and be the ones...

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

About 10 day old Great Egret chicks. First born have an excellent chance of fledging. First born are going to be able to reach up further and be the ones to eat first when mom and dad bring in food to the nest. Chicks born hours or days later must fight for every scrap. Early relationships among heron chicks is fierce.
Wakodahatchee Wetlands.
Sony a1, Sony 200-600 @ 456mm f6.3, auto exposure, -.7

jdtonkinson Loc: Red Wing, MN

Great captures Bill. Nice background info too. Sounds a bit like Eaglets

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Outstanding photo!

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

Awwww

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Great capture.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Nice image.

tcthome Loc: NJ

You would think the parents would make sure the young'ns would get some too! Oh well, great photo.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

billnikon wrote:

About 10 day old Great Egret chicks. First born have an excellent chance of fledging. First born are going to be able to reach up further and be the ones to eat first when mom and dad bring in food to the nest. Chicks born hours or days later must fight for every scrap. Early relationships among heron chicks is fierce.
Wakodahatchee Wetlands.
Sony a1, Sony 200-600 @ 456mm f6.3, auto exposure, -.7

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

tcthome wrote:

You would think the parents would make sure the young'ns would get some too! Oh well, great photo.

Most parents are good about bringing in small minnows and regurgitating them into the mouths of the youngsters. It is not a proven process. The chicks position the best they can, but, size and reach will always have an advantage.
Unlike Wood Storks who are much more communal in the nest and seem to cooperate when it comes to eating.

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

Cute little dudes in an ugly shirt of way... LOL

rockdog Loc: Berkeley, Ca.

billnikon wrote:

About 10 day old Great Egret chicks. First born have an excellent chance of fledging. First born are going to be able to reach up further and be the ones to eat first when mom and dad bring in food to the nest. Chicks born hours or days later must fight for every scrap. Early relationships among heron chicks is fierce.
Wakodahatchee Wetlands.
Sony a1, Sony 200-600 @ 456mm f6.3, auto exposure, -.7

Wonderful photo, best of luck to junior!

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

billnikon wrote:

About 10 day old Great Egret chicks. First born have an excellent chance of fledging. First born are going to be able to reach up further and be the ones to eat first when mom and dad bring in food to the nest. Chicks born hours or days later must fight for every scrap. Early relationships among heron chicks is fierce.
Wakodahatchee Wetlands.
Sony a1, Sony 200-600 @ 456mm f6.3, auto exposure, -.7

I let my hair grow out about five years back, and that's what I ended up with

Of course the chicks are much better looking than I ever was

Great job

joemcl1

Fine shot Bill; hope to see more of these guys.

tgreenhaw

What a cool picture :-) When I see them I think they look like baby dinosaurs.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Love it!