The Great Blue Heron Heronry

Today I visited our Great Blue Heron Heronry (known to the birders around here as The Rookery). It’s only three miles from our house, but it’s not well known, and we lived in our house eight years before learning about it. However, we knew something was up somewhere around us because from the day we moved into our house in 1999 a Great Blue Heron (Big Blue) would fly out over our front yard in the morning (probably heading toward the Little Miami River) and fly home over our backyard in the evening. It may sound strange, but you feel special when you're on a Great Blue’s flight pattern. You start watching and waiting for him, and when he appears, it’s a like a friend is there. 

The first time we saw the heronry was on March 25, 2007 when it was in full swing. Huge birds were flying everywhere squawking, circling, landing, and carrying cumbersome sticks. From my field journal:

Rick, Matty and I went to the rookery today with high hopes. It was beautiful. There are six huge sycamore trees with over 63 nests (and those were just the nests I could see). The trees and nests are monstrous. I’ve never seen anything like it…so much activity!

In early February, however, it’s quite a different story. At this time, males are starting to pick out nests. Herons reuse nests, and older nests can grow to outrageous sizes. Pre-built nests are usually claimed first. When these run out, arriving males will stake out a site in the colony for a future nest. By the end of February, females start returning to the breeding grounds to pick out a mate. Every year, herons choose different mates.

Today when I arrived at 2:00, there was no action. I didn’t expect any because it was the middle of the day and I assumed the Great Blues were out fishing in the Little Miami River, but I knew at about 5:20 a heron would fly over our house and head for home, so I headed for the heronry then (just after I put some dinner in the oven). When I arrived, I saw one heron on a nest.

He is very handsome. You can just make out his 

breeding plumage in this photo. I need a 400mm lens!

…soon after, another heron flew in. Look at his path, 

he’s gunning straight toward the heron already perched.

Yikes! The first heron flies off and the newcomer takes his place.

…but First Heron decides he’s not giving up his stake 

without a fight and returns for a little claw action.

They struggle for a few seconds and eventually 

the newcomer flies off finding another branch, 

and First Heron reclaims his perch.

I am King!!

I’m going to travel to the heronry a lot over the next couple of months and will keep everyone posted on the progress of the colony. (Thanks for pulling the dinner out of the oven, Rick! Needless to say, I got caught up watching the herons and was about 10 minutes later than I expected returning home. :-) I'm sure it didn't surprise Rick at all.)

For Part 2 of this series, click here: Feb 13 at the Great Blue Heron Rookery

For Part 3 of this series, click here: Feb 17 at the Great Blue Heron Rookery

For Part 4 of this series, click here: March 6 at the Great Blue Heron Rookery

For Part 5 of this series, click here: March 9 at the Great Blue Heron Rookery

For Part 6 of this series, click here: March 10 at the Great Blue Heron Rookery

For Part 7 of this series, click here: March 17 at the Great Blue Heron Rookery

For Part 8 of this series, click here: March 31 at the Great Blue Heron Rookery

For Part 9 of this series, click here: April 22 at the Great Blue Heron Rookery

For Part 10 of this series, click here: May 3 at the Great Blue Heron Rookery