I was at Lindsay Parsons in Danby on Monday, checking on the Great Blue Heron chicks. It has been a couple weeks since I’ve been up there to check on them. Wow! They are getting very close to leaving the nest and it looks like one of the nests is actually empty. It’s easy to spot the young ones that have recently let the nest. They basically all congregate in the same area, not really sure of what to do or how to act. In a short time they will begin to explore and wander farther from the nest area. Eventually they will seek new areas of their own. These are not great pics by any means but the nests are a long shot even with a super telephoto. But they show the chicks interaction with the parent as the parent stops by to feed them. They are very aggressive as the chicks compete for food. Remember, the one who gets the most food has the best chance of surviving! There was one chick who never got up at feeding time, sitting by itself the whole time. It’s either very sick or it is already dead. Life is not easy for them……

This will probably be the last pics of the chicks in the nest. Time flies when you’re having fun! Hope you enjoy!

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