A Great Blue Heron exhibits mating signs on approach of another. As we silently watched and snapped pictures of the herons, a large bird flapped its enormous wings and hovered near another. Quickly this bird took flight with raucous rasping honks in off-beat duet with its amorous companion. The two glided like pterodacyls to the far shore of the pond where they engaged in mating rituals. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Mostly cloudy skies. Take a left onto Rt. Turn right and follow Rt. With a good pair of binoculars, the breeding colony can be seen . Upon return the birds add sticks to the nests on which they raised a family the year before. Boylston). A brighter view for herons | News | eagletribune.com ), with long legs and sinuous necks. I go most every year in search of nesting herons. Heron rookery in the conservation area . National Audubon Society - Great Blue Heron Rookery Project The conservation area has several lovely trails to be enjoyed throughout the seasons. Ornithologist Jim Berry says four eggs per nest per parent couple are usually laid. We dont know the mortality rate of vulnerable chicks in such high open penthouses without guardrails. Hike time: 2 hours. Some birds winter over and are found in coastal areas or where freshwater remains open. Behind Home Depot in Seekonk, Bristol County, Massachusetts, US on Sun Mar 27, 2022, Behind Home Depot in Seekonk, Bristol County, Massachusetts, US, Another location near Behind Home Depot in Seekonk, Bristol County, Massachusetts, US on Sun Mar 27, 2022, Another location near Behind Home Depot in Seekonk, Bristol County, Massachusetts, US. As you can see there are more questions than answers, especially for us very amateur naturalists who neither radio-tag birds to follow their travels nor send peeping Tom drones above their nests. Show your appreciation for HikeNewEngland by using these practical and fun reusable shopping bags. You can also email Mary Elfner, or James River Park. Learn more in our Breeding Bird Atlas 2. Do they remember which nest is theirs? The nests are flat platforms made of sticks and lined with moss, pine needles, and other leaf material.
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