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Spring Discovery: A Bird Story (Part 1)
“Great Blue Heron”, original 15” x 22” watercolor
My first glimpse of the heronry.
The weather forecast looked beautiful for late March, so I was heading down to our condo on Table Rock Lake; I knew it was the time of year that Great Blue Herons begin nesting. I have occasionally visited a couple of heronries on Lake Taneycomo (the more generic term for "heronry" is "rookery"), but they were not easily accessible and have declined in recent years.
I decided to ask the "experts" on the Missouri Birders Facebook page if there were any heron colonies in the Branson area. They did not disappoint! I was thrilled to learn that there is a very nice heronry just minutes from our condo! The above photo, taken on March 26, 2021, shows the entire group of nests. Look again at the above image. Do you see the heron at the top of the tree on the far right? Is she standing on the beginnings of a nest?
I zoomed my camera in to get a better look and, sure enough, that handful of sticks appears to be new construction!
According to All About Birds*:
"Male Great Blue Herons collect much of the nest material, gathering sticks from the ground and nearby shrubs and trees...and presenting them to the female. She weaves a platform and a saucer-shaped nest cup, lining it with pine needles, moss, reeds, dry grass...or small twigs. Nest building can take from 3 days up to 2 weeks; the finished nest can range from a simple platform measuring 20 inches across to more elaborate structures used over multiple years, reaching 4 feet across and nearly 3.5 feet deep."
Here is a closer view of the cluster of three nests (which appears to be two nests in the distance image).
And a closeup of the beauty in the middle, showing off her nuptial plumage. These birds are absolutely gorgeous!
I returned to the heronry the next day, March 27, as I would every day while staying in the area. Pairs are mostly monogamous during a season, but they choose new partners each year. In my mind, the two working on this new nest are a first-time couple, so I am very interested in their story. I'm also hoping this nest will remain visible as the trees green up so that I will be able to continue getting decent photos (so far it seems to be the least camouflaged).
The "newlyweds" are making progress on the nest, slowly but surely.
A breathtaking view.
I stop by for some final photos on the morning of my departure, March 29. The herons are backlit at this time of day, so the photos aren't as clear, but the couples seem more active with more courtship displays than I was able to see in the evenings. Notice the progress on the nest. I'll be back soon!
Photograph. Paint. Love. Repeat.
*All About Birds is my go-to source for bird information.
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