Great Blue Herons are hatched
Jan 21, 2013 15:12:35 #
I've been watching a pair of Great Blue Herons as they have built their nest, mated and now hatched their young. The chicks were born (hatched) on Sunday at about 6:50 a.m.
I was in place to check them out and saw mom sitting on the nest, suddenly her crown feathers rose and then the activity began. I could not see down into the nest but watched as mom poked into the cavity. She came up with drool hanging from her beak several times and then started throwing out the bits of egg shell. Eventually, she regurgitated fish into the nest, then swallowed it again. Finally she came to rest on the nest covering her young.
I'm providing four photos here as follows:
1. Mom with raised crown feather as the activity begins.
2.Mom with drool, I assume from fluids in the shell as she assisted her young.
3. Feeding first meal, If you look carefully you can see the fish coming from her bill, and then just to the left of her bill you can see the top fuzz of one of the new chicks. They never rose higher to get a better shot.
4. The last photo is mom resting and covering her young, with a section of the shell to the left.
Thanks for looking. More photos to follow as the chicks grow.
Larry
I was in place to check them out and saw mom sitting on the nest, suddenly her crown feathers rose and then the activity began. I could not see down into the nest but watched as mom poked into the cavity. She came up with drool hanging from her beak several times and then started throwing out the bits of egg shell. Eventually, she regurgitated fish into the nest, then swallowed it again. Finally she came to rest on the nest covering her young.
I'm providing four photos here as follows:
1. Mom with raised crown feather as the activity begins.
2.Mom with drool, I assume from fluids in the shell as she assisted her young.
3. Feeding first meal, If you look carefully you can see the fish coming from her bill, and then just to the left of her bill you can see the top fuzz of one of the new chicks. They never rose higher to get a better shot.
4. The last photo is mom resting and covering her young, with a section of the shell to the left.
Thanks for looking. More photos to follow as the chicks grow.
Larry
Mom notices that her eggs are hatching
Mom's bill with hanging drool from assisting with the birthing of the chicks
Mom places first meal into the nest only minutes after the chicks hatch. You can see the top of a chicks head (white fuzz just to the left of her bill)
Mom resting on the nest after feeding and removing egg shells. One piece of the shell still hangs on the nest on the left.
Jan 21, 2013 15:18:02 #
Jan 21, 2013 15:43:38 #
What an incredible series. Can't wait for next installment!
Jan 21, 2013 15:46:00 #
Jan 21, 2013 15:49:39 #
Jan 21, 2013 16:33:37 #
Jan 21, 2013 16:35:43 #
Jan 21, 2013 16:45:07 #
treadwl wrote:
I've been watching a pair of Great Blue Herons as ... (show quote)
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Good job, Larry! Great shots. Thanks for explaining and sharing.
Jan 21, 2013 17:29:17 #
treadwl wrote:
I've been watching a pair of Great Blue Herons as ... (show quote)
"Happy Birthday" and welcome to this big wide world little fluffy ones.... Can't wait to see you grow...thanks treadwl for sharing these magnificent shots
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Jeanette
Jan 21, 2013 20:51:54 #
Wow, those are great and I like the others, can't wait to see more! Wonderful :)
Debbie
Debbie
Jan 21, 2013 21:08:02 #
treadwl wrote:
I've been watching a pair of Great Blue Herons as ... (show quote)
A really great group of photos. Can't wait for more!
Jan 22, 2013 06:07:20 #
Simply awesome shots. wish I could have been there. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Jan 22, 2013 08:47:51 #
Jan 22, 2013 09:49:05 #
Jan 22, 2013 10:19:35 #
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