Black River Heron Colony
2001 Photographs
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Early to mid-March, 2001
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All of the Great Blue Herons below are mature adults going through 
mate selection, staking out nest locations, and incubating eggs.
(March is a good time to view the Black River Heron Colony 
before the trees start leafing out.)
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Heron adults establishing
their nests and sitting on eggs.
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© Julian Sayers
Two of the Herons in the 
larger photo clearly show their 
white caps in these closeups.
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(Note: the branches were removed 
digitally so the heads are more visible; 
the Heron heads were not altered)
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Great Blue Heron 
fledging portrait 
(fledglings have all-black caps and streaky chests)
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© Sunny Walter
...		 ...............June 15, 2001.
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Heron fledglings hoping to find some fish to eat. 
Drought conditions have reduced the fish population 
to minimum levels.   Very few, if any, fledglings are 
fortunate enough to find fish in P1 Pond this year.
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© Julian Sayers
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June 19, 2001
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Great Blue Heron nestlings competing for food. 
Note the major rivalry among the three siblings -- sometimes one nestling 
is much smaller and has trouble getting enough food to survive.
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The parent in the back of the upper middle photo has a white cap on her head; 
the babies' caps are all black
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© Sunny Walter
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Also on June 19, 2001

Three Heron nestlings watch as fledglings fly in and out of the nest area.
Fledglings are very young birds who have taken their first flight.
These nestlings are about 6 weeks old and won't fledge for another 2 weeks.

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© Sunny Walter
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A Great Blue Heron fledging takes off from the nest area and heads to the P1 Pond to try to feed.
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A Heron fledgling returns to the nest area (a little awkwardly) 
after flying around to practice his (or her) flying skills. 
The Heron to the right of the nest just came in with a very smooth landing. 
It fledged a week ago and has honed its flying skills nicely in that time. 
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© Sunny Walter
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© Sunny Walter
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URL: http://www.sunnywalter.com/Envir-SuzanneKromPhotos01.htm
Links checked and updated on:  June 28, 2001
Text and photos are copyright © 2001 Sunny Walter 
          (unless otherwise noted)
For more information, contact sunny@sunnywalter.com