Watching for the First Flight!!

 May 15, 2022

All of the Little Blue Heron chicks, from multiple nests, are now starting to hop from branch to branch with the aid of a little flapping of wings. I have yet to see an actual flight, but it sure seems like it will be soon. I have spied about 5 or 6 neighboring nests in the same tree, and the chicks return to their own nest at night (and, it seems, to be fed), but there is a lot of socializing going on. Here are the 3 from the first nest I saw - I call them Huey, Dewey & Louie.



Here they are with mom after feeding.



In the closest nest to this one (with only one chick observed), a lone egg showed up last week. They are both looking at it like they've never seen one before ("Where did this come from?"). I don't have a lot of hope for this egg hatching, or for the chick surviving if it hatches.


Meanwhile, a couple trees over, I am continuing to watch the Great Blue Heron chick. This is a sad case - he has been trying out his wings by stretching them when mom is around. A few evenings ago I thought I might see the first flight, but he chickened out at the last minute and mom flew off. This chick is all alone for most of the day, since the sibling disappeared. Nobody up there to natter at, so I guess it's fortunate that these are solitary birds.



I'm really hoping to see some short flights before the next post!!












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