The Visitors

Young herons have striated breasts.

 This is a thrill:  two green herons nested in our front yard live oaks this year; as best we can tell the broods consisted of three chicks from each nest.  Green herons are naturally reclusive--particularly when nesting--and it has been difficult to glimpse them.  This week, however, the young herons have been coming into the back yard to visit the birdbaths and hunt insects in the pool.  They are very skittish--often flying if they see movement through the windows or doors.  Even so, it's a thrill.

Suspicious heron has seen me watching through the window.

Insects are probably easier to catch than fish.

This is a typical pose--relaxed and restful herons at the birdbath, gazing at the pool.

All of these photos were taken through the windows or doors.  The instant I try to open a door, the herons fly into the trees.  The first year, when three nests produced seven young, the herons were much less concerned and often came within inches of us while we swam.  Delightful!

Heron Signs

For some days I had seen only one of the young herons--moving in the branches of a neighboring tree, far from the nest--and I had seen neither of the adults.  The only encouraging sign was hearing a heron call--though I wasn't able to sight the bird.

Several times a day I would scan the branches near the nest, feeling discouraged, and wondering if another brood had been lost to the depredations of the broad-winged hawks who regularly hunt in the area.  

This was encouraging: 











Even if I couldn't spot the herons, plainly the tree had visitors.  

After a fruitless scan of the two front yard live oaks, I turned to go back inside, looked down at the sidewalk....... and got a surprise!

This is about 4" long.

There could be only ONE way for this little bream to appear on my front walk!  
I spotted two young herons moving in the branches, the better to hide from view.

Later that afternoon, we were seeing a friend out--at a fortuitous moment!  We witnessed three young herons being fed by an adult.  (It's something of a mob scene, as the young scramble, flap, and climb to reach the adult and be fed.  Evidence suggests that sometimes there is a bit of carelessness.


In the midst of our ongoing (seemingly endless) work at the lake, it's good to know that life goes on.

The Return of the Herons

This morning I was out harvesting asparagus spears, when I heard something that made me look up at the roof....just in time to see a green heron take wing.  For weeks I have noticed signs (chalky droppings under the live oaks) but have sighted no large birds other than the broad-winged hawk (a bird predator.)  

This morning's visit from the heron was thrilling.  (A little later I heard some brief cackling and spotted a heron stopping in  one of the trees where nesting has previously taken place.)
The first year we hosted green herons, there were seven offspring from at least two nests.  The birds visited the pool when we were swimming, eagerly accepting gifts of crickets.  In following years the birds were less numerous and more skittish.....and the hawks took a great toll.  

Hope springs eternal..... We hope that one or more mating pairs will nest in our trees and bring off a brood successfully. 

These photos are from previous years.  The mahogany breast is seen on adult birds; young herons have striated breast markings.  Green herons are swift fliers (unlike the Great Blue Herons who fly at a much more stately pace.)  Generally they are shy and prefer not to be watched. 

An upstairs window gave us a view of the nest high in one tree

Young herons waiting for handouts

Grooming