April 24, 2015
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Two Herons
As we move farther into the spring, it appears to me that only two of the herons have come back. I've visited several times, and seen no more than two, although sometimes I see none. Here are some shots I took on 4/12 -- later shots have not shown the birds, which were sitting in the nest behind the trees.
We currently have a series of 'winter storms' passing through. The sky has been very gray, and threatening rain, yet we've had no actual rain at all in my corner of Orange County. I still wonder where the other herons have gone, but I am not hopeful that we'll see more in this location.
Despite the weather, I drove to Escondido yesterday, north of San Diego, to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. I had been invited to tour their Institute for Conservation Research. I'll post more about it as soon as I get the photos edited, but I am extremely impressed with what the ICR is doing to help save endangered species. It was an extremely interesting tour, and there are some fun things happening. More soon!
Comments (18)
Those lonely birds! I am glad you were able to visit the ICR. They do such wonderful work, indeed.
The birds are sad -- I hope there are more coming back soon, but I'm afraid it's getting to be too late for that now. Maybe next year! I'll post about ICR and some of their research over the weekend -- it was a most educational/enlightening/inspiring experience!
I hope it does rain continuously for several days, so your grounds get some saturation.
Like always, the capture of the herons, looks good. Too bad only two have returned. May be after the rains some more may arrive?
We've had gray skies all week -- and nary a drop of rain in this area, although, to be fair, there has been a little showery rain elsewhere, and LA actually had some flash flooding last night. Our rainy season is over for the year, so it would be unusual for us to have much more rain now, and they're talking about another heat wave in the coming week!! I think the herons have also probably found other homes -- it seems a little late for them to come back this year and begin their nesting processes.
I am so disappointed to hear this! I love your herons! I hope this drought ends and all the wildlife thrives again...
(doing a rain dance - seems to work in IN)
I am disappointed too -- I still have a little hope that they are somewhere not far away, or that the odd weather has them sorely confused about the timing of things! Your rain dance worked this time -- it's been showering since about 3 pm today -- but it will warm up again and be hot by mid-week! I had a wonderful tour this week of the Institute of Conservation Research at the San Diego Safari Park -- it was most inspiring, and it made me think of you -- if you get out this way, perhaps I could arrange a similar tour for you!
It's raining here!!! It started with a morning drizzle and escalated to a totally unexpected light rain. We are running the furnace for the first time in months. Of course, they're predicting 90s in the next three days so everything will dry out but we are enjoying our winter clothes one last time.
Yes -- we had about 3 hours of that light rain this afternoon, and cold weather. Even though it will heat up quickly, it felt good to have a little rain today!
I live only about two miles from the Gulf and we have lots of birds but this year not many Great Blue Herons. Maybe they have found a better place to go.
I think the herons have gone farther afield for food, or perhaps move every so many years to new nesting grounds.
How many herons do you usually see?
When I first discovered this colony of herons, there were about 10-12 nests at the treetops, each with a nesting pair and one or two chicks. It remained that way for a couple of years, then last year there were fewer, and this year it seems there is only one pair.
Wonderful photos! I wish that threat of rain would be true for you. peace always
Thanks, Jane! We did get a little rain yesterday -- for about 3 hours, the sidewalks were wet, and water was falling from the sky -- probably less than 1/4 inch all told, but even that helps.
@slmret: awww, bummer!
Thanks, Zakiah! Yes, it is a bummer, but I trust that the herons have found quarters that suit them better for now!
So sad more of the herons didn't return ~ like you, I wonder what happened!
I think their food has migrated to water of more suitable temperature -- they had it very easy in the harbor, but the fishes have moved on.
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