Great Blue Herons were a common site on the islands in the Pinellas NWR on our Bird Survey yesterday. As early nesters there were adults on nests and parents feeding youngsters. We want to show you a potpourri of heron shots and hope you will enjoy them. In the days to come we will highlight other bird species we encountered on the survey so stay tuned, please.
The Don Cesar
Thanks to specially shaped neck vertebrae, GBH's can curl their neck into an S shape for a more aerodynamic flight profile.
Sticks are brought back to the nests for continued maintenance.
Notice the other parent seems to be asking for the sticks so they can be placed into the nest.
The nest is complete.
A youngster.
GBHs have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray. The herons comb this "powder down" with a fringed claw (a serrated talon) on their middle toes, using this down like a washcloth to remove slime and other oils from their feathers as they preen.
Applying this order to their underparts protects their feathers against the slime and oils they pick up while foraging.
They have an extensive range.
"Feed me. Please feed me!!!"
The chicks are forever begging Mom or Dad to regurgitate a fish meal for them.
The adult finally succumbs and lowers its head so the young bird can put its bill around the parent's bill.
And the parent regurgitates a partially digested "fish soup" into the chick's mouth.
More begging
The chick's appetites seem never satiated.
No comments:
Post a Comment