Great Blue Heron Nest #1 скачать в хорошем качестве

Great Blue Heron Nest #1

Part#1: While filming Great Blue Heron nest this spring with a drone, I witnessed vicious acts that exemplify the adage “survival of the fittest,” to acts of incredible kindness, where a bigger brother or sister would actually share the fish or frogs the parents brought them. And one even looked like it was protecting a weaker fledgling. The nesting season started in early February, with hundreds of birds returning to two large stands of cottonwood trees to stake their claims to a prime nesting spot. I saw couples that apparently were clueless when it came to building or repairing a nest. Several birds just stood on branches, apparently expecting a nest to magically appear. Others were busy flying off to look for materials, then pitching in and building their nest together. By March, their numbers thinned out significantly, and many of the previously occupied nests from last year were abandoned. I have no idea why, other than perhaps as the temperatures started to rise, the rain stopped, and the lakes close to rookery started to dry out, their food sources were only able to support the two dozen or so pairs that stayed behind. Here is a video of fledglings in the nest spanning several months. A bigger sibling pecks at a weaker one to deny it food. As you will see, the results unfortunately, were predictable.