Now look closely at this photo and you’ll see two young green herons perching on the horizontal branch at ward street. Why do I say young? We weren’t sure until we got home and blew up the pictures. Check out their fuzzy pinfeather heads that are still waiting for that impressive green heron ruff to grow in. Last night we saw four hanging out on the branch, obviously not sure they were ready for a night away from the nest.
I was never certain that green herons reproduced in the area, but these guys are certainly from a local nest. In fact we think their birthplace was just a ways off in that stand of trees. They are kind of ready to venture out on their own. But not THAT ready. Look at them huddle together. And think of when the last time was you ever saw two green herons looking cozy together. Never, that’s when.
They all tried flying off and settling in different street trees. Then clamored back anxiously in a huddle. One flew over to investigate the sudden SQUAWK of a woman walking by with a parrot. It’s a big scary world outside the nest, and we think they were getting ready to spend their first night alone in it.
Oh and there were beavers there too. We saw mom and dad swimming about, and the award beginnings of a new dam under the bridge. I don’t think the city is likely to flood any time soon. Heh heh heh.
I think mom might have been miffed that herons had stolen their paparazzi. Here’s she is cruising the neighborhood and making sure we were watching.
And here’s what Moses shared some this morning, filmed from a little lower. I just wish that beaver reaching could face us so we could see if there are teats!
