February 24, 2018: Lives of Great Blue Herons

Today I saw two chicks in the Great Blue heron nest.  On a different nest, mom was incubating and dad was off fishing.

Mom feeding the least mature of the two chicks

A different nest - Mom in the incubating position with what seems to be a nictitating membrane covering her eyes (the eyes seem dull instead of the usual bright)

Dad fishing

Dad caught a small green plant

February 23, 2018: Another episode of copulation and many episodes of nest enhance / twig passing

Early morning observations of Great Blue Herons: nest building and mating

Great blue heron passing twigs for nest building

February 22, 2018: Nest building and copulation

Lots of nest building with a pause for copulation.  Meanwhile in another nest, the chick is growing.

Great Blue Heron - mounting the female, doing his thing and hopping off to go find more twigs for the nest

Great blue heron: Early morning twig gathering 

Male Great blue heron passing a twig to the female

Male Great blue heron transporting a twig

Tricolored heron fishing

Tricolored heron came up empty