Great Blue Heron at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 23, 2016

I birded some of the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning and for the most part, very quiet. One Caspian Tern at McKinley Marina and 500 + Bonaparte’s Gulls at Grant Park were the highlights that I could find along the lake. The lakefront was very cold with a stiff north wind, a few times the sun felt great. Stopped at Whitnall and just a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers were present, along with typical birds we see and birds that have been reported recently. I crossed paths with Bruce and we headed up to Greenfield Park for a last stop. There was a Great Blue Heron, a 1st year, a bird born last summer, putting on a great show, catching fish, preening and do what Great Blue Herons do. It was nice to wind down the morning with a little excitement with the heron. Images were taken on April 23, 2016.

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The catch, with a Bullhead

Great Blue Heron

Binomial name: Ardea herodias

Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

Size: 46” long, 72” wing span

Weight: 5.3 lb

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Fish in neck

Fish in neck

Fish still in neck

Fish still in neck

Fish going down with a look

Fish going down with a look

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Preening

Preening, grooming and caring for the feathers

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

Preening

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Great Blue Heron with a Flathead Minnow

Stretching

Stretching

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Double catch! Great Blue Heron with Flathead Minnows

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Great Blue Heron with a Flathead Minnow

Fishing

Fishing

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Great Blue Heron with a Flathead Minnow

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Great Blue Heron with a Flathead Minnow

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Great Blue Heron with a Flathead Minnow

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Great Blue Heron with a Flathead Minnow

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The amazing feathers!

The amazing feathers!

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Great Blue Heron with a Bullhead

Great Blue Herons at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 1, 2016

I took a run over to Greenfield Park mid-afternoon do a short birding run. Great Blue Herons have returned, one seemed to want to nap while another one, a heron in full breeding plumage went hunting for some food and did some moving around too. From what I had heard, they have been back a couple of days now, how exciting. Another species I saw were 2 Pied-billed Grebes near the island. Nothing else but recent reported species. Hopefully this year they will raise another nice family there. It was mostly cloudy but the sun did shine for a couple of minutes while I was there. Images were taken on April 1, 2016.

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Great Blue Heron

Binomial name: Ardea herodias

Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

Size: 46” long, 72” wing span

Weight: 5.3 lb

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Hanging out at the island

The drink

The drink

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Hunting

Hunting

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Hunting

Hunting

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Just resting off the beaten trail

Looks like a 1st year bird, a bird born last year just resting off the beaten trail

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Great Egrets and American White Pelicans at Horicon Marsh on September 4, 2015

I made a trip up to Horicon Marsh in Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties in Wisconsin today. Overall quiet, but a few of the bigger species made themselves known. Great Egrets, American White Pelicans and Green Herons were some of the highlights. A tree laying in the water with 9 Wood Ducks on it looked impressive but the photo just does not do it justice. Some common shorebirds were present but located father from Hwy 49 when I was there. It was an overcast day and light fog early on and the light cloud cover remained the time I was there till late morning, temps were warm. Images were taken on September 4, 2015.

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

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Great Egret

Great Egret hunting!

Great Egret hunting!

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Great Egret

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Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

American White Pelican

American White Pelican

American White Pelican at takeoff!

American White Pelican at takeoff!

American White Pelican

American White Pelican

11 Wood Ducks preening and resting!

9 Wood Ducks preening and resting! Red eyes are the males.

Green Heron

Green Heron with a frog!

Green Heron hunting!

Green Heron hunting!

Green Heron with a small fish

Green Heron with a small fish

Green Heron with a leach!

Green Heron with a leech!

Green Heron eats an American Bullfrog at Greenfield Park in West Allis Wisconsin on September 2, 2015

While doing some birding at Greenfield Park in West Allis this morning I came across a Green Heron catching and eating an American Bullfrog. The bullfrog struggled to get away, and the 1st summer Green Heron struggled to kill it. Finally after a few minutes the Green Heron got control of it and down it went in one piece. Poor Bullfrog! Some of the other bird species present were families of Northern Flicker, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher and Green Heron. Also present, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwings, Wood Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes and some of the more common birds. Overall a quiet morning but nice to get out with other birders and photographers before the heat really set in. Mostly sunny with morning temps in the low 80’s with a light breeze at times. This action took place on one of the bigger islands there at the park. Images were taken on September 2, 2015.

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The bullfrog is fighting to get away, kicking etc

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The bullfrog is still trying to get away by kicking, etc

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The bullfrog is still struggling and the heron just continually pinches the bullfrog

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The bullfrog is tiring

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Starting the process of swallowing the frog head first, I’m sure the adults showed them just how to do this at one time!

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Gulp, poor frog!

Birding at Greenfield Park in West Allis Wisconsin on August 28, 2015

Birding at Greenfield Park this morning provided some nice looks at birds in action. Some of the highlights were species Black-crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Crested Flycatcher and Wood Ducks. An adult Green Heron set out insects for bait on the water that brought in a few prizes. It was a fun morning doing some photography with Bruce and Lee. It was an overcast day. It started to drizzle when I left early afternoon. Images were taken on August 28, 2015 in West Allis, Milwaukee County Wisconsin.

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Green Heron, adult going for the fish

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Green Heron, adult going for the fish

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Green Heron, adult gets the fish

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Green Heron, adult with fish

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Green Heron, setting out a bee for fishing bait

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Green Heron, setting out a bee for fishing bait

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Green Heron, going for the fish

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Green Heron, with the fish

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Green Heron with the fish

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Pied-billed Grebe, juv

Pied-billed Grebe, juvenile

Pied-billed Grebe, adult

Pied-billed Grebe, adult

Pied-billed Grebe, juv stretching

Pied-billed Grebe, juvenile stretching

Pied-billed Grebe, adult shaking off!

Pied-billed Grebe, adult shaking off!

Pied-billed Grebe, juv shaking off!

Pied-billed Grebe,  shaking off!

Pied-billed Grebe, adult, the yawn!

Pied-billed Grebe, the yawn!

Pied-billed Grebe, adult

Pied-billed Grebe, adult

Pied-billed Grebe, preening

Pied-billed Grebe, juvenile preening

Pied-billed Grebe, juv, stretching

Pied-billed Grebe, juvenile stretching

Grebe eating a crayfish

Pied-bill Grebe juvenile eating a crayfish

Pied-billed Grebe juv. eating a crayfish

Pied-billed Grebe juvenile eating a crayfish

Pied-billed Grebe juv. eating a crayfish

Pied-billed Grebe juvenile eating a crayfish

Pied-billed Grebe juvenile

Pied-billed Grebe juvenile

Pied-billed Grebe adult

Pied-billed Grebe adult

Green Heron, juv

Green Heron juvenile

Green Heron, juv, preening

Green Heron juvenile preening

Green Heron, juv, shaking off!

Green Heron juvenile shaking off!

Great Crested Flycatcher

Great Crested Flycatcher

Black-crowned Night Heron, adult

Black-crowned Night Heron, adult

Black-crowned Night Heron, adult

Black-crowned Night Heron, adult

Black-crowned Night Heron, adult stretching

Black-crowned Night Heron, adult stretching

Wood Ducks, adult with young

Wood Ducks, adult female with young

Wood Ducks, adult female with young

Wood Ducks, adult female with young

Green Heron at takeoff

Green Heron at takeoff

Green Herons at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin August 6, 2014

A pair of juvenile Green Herons were present at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin this morning. They worked the shoreline there hunting for food, stretching and resting too. Some of the items they caught were small fish and the Common Blue Damselfly. Also present at the beach area there were 4 Juvenile Caspian Terns. Images were taken on August 6, 2014.

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly.

Green Heron

Binomial name: Buborides virescens

Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

Size: 18” long, 26” wing span

Weight: 7 Oz.

Habitat: Breed in areas of woods or areas with thick vegetation near ponds, marshes, rivers, streams, reservoirs and estuaries. They stay at coastal areas and mangrove swamps in the winter months.

Diet: Green Herons consume fish as their main diet, but also eat amphibians, insects, crustaceans, snails, reptiles and rodents. They catch their food standing still at pond, lake, swamp, creek, marsh, or river edges then darting out with their head snapping up its prey. They also spear their prey with their sharp bill. They usually hunt in waters of less than 4” deep. Deeper waters are usually visited by larger heron species with longer legs.

Nesting: Start of the construction of the nest is done by the male. After a pair is formed the female helps in the nest building. The nest is usually 8-12” across with a bowl of about 2” deep with no lining. The nest is usually located over water at ground level to 30’ or more above the water, but can also be located up to distances of a half mile away from water. They also are known to fix up old nests and during the breeding season they continue to add sticks to their nests as necessary.

Cool fact: Green Herons are known to use bait like insects to bait their prey.

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly.

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly.

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly.

Juvenile Green Heron hunting

Juvenile Green Heron hunting.

Juvenile Green Heron with a fish.

Juvenile Green Heron with a fish.

Juvenile Green Heron with a fish.

Juvenile Green Heron with a fish.

Juvenile Green Heron with gull overhead!

Juvenile Green Heron with gull overhead!

Juvenile Green Heron patiently waiting  for food.

Juvenile Green Heron has it’s eye on something.

Juvenile Green Heron with the catch!

Juvenile Green Heron with the catch!

Juvenile Green Heron, the reflection.

Juvenile Green Heron, the reflection.

Juvenile Green Heron hunting.

Juvenile Green Heron hunting.

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly.

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly in sight.

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly, got it!

Juvenile Green Heron with a Common Blue Damselfly, got it!

Juvenile Green Heron just taking a break.

Juvenile Green Heron just taking a break.

Juvenile Green Heron just taking a break.

Juvenile Green Heron just taking a break.

Juvenile Green Heron, gull overhead!

Juvenile Green Heron just taking a break.

Juvenile Green Heron, getting back to hunting.

Juvenile Green Heron, getting back to hunting.

Juvenile Green Heron stretching.

Juvenile Green Heron stretching.

Juvenile Green Heron

Juvenile Green Heron

Juvenile Green Heron

Juvenile Green Heron

Juvenile Green Heron

Juvenile Green Heron

Juvenile Green Heron

Juvenile Green Heron

Juvenile Caspian Tern in front.

Juvenile Caspian Tern

Juvenile Caspian Tern coming in for a landing.

Juvenile Caspian Tern coming in for a landing.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin July 10, 2014

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron fishing, feeding and resting at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Photographs were taken on July 10, 2014. It has been a real treat to view and photograph this rare visitor whose normal range is the southeastern US.

Resting

Resting

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Binomial name: Nyctanassa violacea

Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

Size: 24” long, 42” wing span

Weight: 1.5 Lb.

Hunting

Fishing

Fishing and hears  something its right side.

Fishing and hears something its left side.

Catching the crayfish!

Catching the crayfish!

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

And down it goes!

Fishing with the reflection of a Ring-billed Gull in the water.

Fishing with the reflection of a Ring-billed Gull in the water.

Resting

Resting

Fishing

Fishing

Fishing

Fishing

Killing the crayfish after another catch!

Killing the crayfish after another catch!

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Hunting

Fishing

Hunting

Fishing

Back view

Back view

Fishing

Fishing

Fishing

Fishing

Fishing

Fishing

Hunting

Hunting

Green Heron at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin July 9, 2014

Green Heron fishing, feeding and resting at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Photographs were taken on July 9, 2014.

Capture of the crayfish!

Capture of the crayfish.

Green Heron

Binomial name: Buborides virescens

Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

Size: 18” long, 26” wing span

Weight: 7 Oz.

Habitat: Breed in areas of woods or areas with thick vegetation near ponds, marshes, rivers, streams, reservoirs and estuaries. They stay at coastal areas and mangrove swamps in the winter months.

Diet: Green Herons consume fish as their main diet, but also eat amphibians, insects, crustaceans, snails, reptiles and rodents. They catch their food standing still at pond, lake, swamp, creek, marsh, or river edges then darting out with their head snapping up its prey. They also spear their prey with their sharp bill. They usually hunt in waters of less than 4” deep. Deeper waters are usually visited by larger heron species with longer legs.

Nesting: Start of the construction of the nest is done by the male. After a pair is formed the female helps in the nest building. The nest is usually 8-12” across with a bowl of about 2” deep with no lining. The nest is usually located over water at ground level to 30’ or more above the water, but can also be located up to distances of a half mile away from water. They also are known to fix up old nests and during the breeding season they continue to add sticks to their nests as necessary.

Cool fact: Green Herons are known to use bait like insects to bait their prey. In some images below a Green Heron used a fly to try to attract a small fish to eat. It repeated this a couple of times as I stood there but was unsuccessful that time in getting it’s fishing trick to work that attracts fish or other prey, to then snatch up.

Killing the crayfish.

Killing the crayfish.

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Killing the crayfish.

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Killing the crayfish.

Just before the swallow!

Just before the swallow!

Hunting and waiting.

Fishing and waiting.

The catch!

The catch!

The catch!

The catch!

Hunting

Fishing

Hunting

Fishing

Going for a fly to be used to bait a minnow.

Going for a fly to be used to bait a minnow.

Catching the fly!

Catching the fly!

Setting the fly in the water to attract a minnow.

Setting the fly in the water to attract a minnow.

Changes plan and takes the fly to a new location to be used to bait a minnow.

Changes plan and takes the fly to a new location to be used to bait a minnow.

Takes off to a new location.

Takes off to a new location.

Catches a crayfish after hunting for a while.

Catches a crayfish after fishing.

Killing the crayfish.

Killing the crayfish.

Killing the crayfish.

Killing the crayfish.

Killing the crayfish.

Killing the crayfish.

Killing the crayfish.

Killing the crayfish.

Swallows the crayfish without notice!

Swallows the crayfish without notice!

Going down!

Going down!

In the process!

In the process!

Hunting

Fishing

Resting

Resting

Resting

Resting

Resting

Resting

Hunting

Fishing

Hunting

Fishing

Beautiful back view of feathers and colors!

Beautiful back view of feathers and colors!

Fishing

Fishing

Resting

Resting

Fishing

Fishing

The catch!

The catch!

Killing the crayfish

Killing the crayfish

Resting after swallowing the crayfish!

Resting after swallowing the crayfish!

Snowy Egret at Fort Atkinson in Jefferson County Wisconsin May 29, 2014

The ride paid off for the report of the Snowy Egret at Fort Atkinson in Jefferson County. It was still present when I arrived at 3:25 pm far off the road in a flooded field. This location is just east of the city on Hwy 106, south side of the highway. A life bird for me which made it exciting. Images were taken on May 29, 2014.

Great Egret - left, Snowy Egret, right.

Great Egret – left, Snowy Egret, right

Snowy Egret

Binomial name: Egretta thula

Category: Bittern, Herons, and Allies

Size: 24” long, 41” wing span

Weight: 13 oz.

Habitat: Typically they are found on most coasts of the US and Mexico but sometimes can be found breeding inland in wetland areas, mudflats and beaches. They forage in both freshwater and marine habitats preferring shallow sheltered estuarine areas. The breeding range is from the lower Great Lakes and southwestern US to South America.

Diet: Fish, crustacean, insects and smaller reptiles.

Nesting: They nest in colonies, usually with other wading birds. They like platform type nests made of sticks in trees or shrubs. The nests are flat 14”-18” across, 8”-13” high, lined with rushes, grasses, sedges and twigs. 3-4 eggs are incubated by both adults before the young leave the nest which is 20-25 days.

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

2 Great Egrets - left, Snowy Egret, right

2 Great Egrets – left, Snowy Egret – right

Great Egret - right, Snowy Egret, left

Great Egret – right, Snowy Egret – left

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret, down under!

Snowy Egret, down under!

Snowy Egret, left, Great Egret, right

Snowy Egret – left, Great Egret – right

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Horicon Marsh, WI August 13, 2013

Photographs from Horicon Marsh, Fond du lac/Dodge County, Wisconsin taken August 13, 2013.

Marbled Godwit

Marbled Godwit

Marbled Godwit

Marbled Godwit

Common Moorhen with young

Common Moorhen with young

Red-necked Phalaropes

3 – Red-necked Phalaropes (background)

Spotted Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Juvenile Stilt Sandpiper

Juvenile Stilt Sandpiper

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

To view the full gallery of images, please click here.

Horicon Marsh, WI July 29, 2013

Photographs from Horicon Marsh, Fond du lac/Dodge County, Wisconsin taken July 29, 2013.

Black-crowned Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

Baby Common Moorhen

Baby Common Moorhen

Juvenile American White Pelicans

Juvenile American White Pelicans

Juvenile American White Pelicans

Juvenile American White Pelicans

Juvenile American White Pelicans

Juvenile American White Pelicans

Juvenile American White Pelican

Juvenile American White Pelican

Juvenile Black Tern

Juvenile Black Tern

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

Great Egret

To view the full gallery of images, please click here.

Cattle Egret

The Cattle Egret is one of my nemesis birds this year. After many miles of driving through areas where Cattle Egrets had been reported, this was my first real chance to photograph one. This time it did not disappoint me. I saw not one bird, but two.  They were in a double pasture with cows just northeast of Horicon Marsh on Stumpf Road in Fond du lac County, Wisconsin.

I’ve also included images of some Wilson’s Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor) from Horicon Marsh.

Photographs taken July 23, 2013.

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Binomial name: Bubulcus ibis

Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

Description: White plumage with cream-colored feathers on its chest, head, and tail during breeding season.  Yellow bill and gray legs.

Size: 18”-22” long, 35” – 38” wingspan

Weight: 9.5 oz. – 18 oz.

Habitat: Pastures, grasslands, meadows, and wetlands

Diet: Insects (grasshoppers and crickets), spiders, amphibians, and worms

Nesting: Cattle Egrets nest in colonies, typically near a body of water.  Both males and females build the nest; males collect twigs and sticks while the female assembles them into jumbled pile in a tree or shrub.  It is common for these birds to steal nest materials from others.  The female will lay 1 to 5 eggs and raise 1 brood each season.  Both parents incubate the eggs.  Chicks are born with down feathers but are still helpless.  The fledglings leave the nest after about 45 days.

Notes: Cattle Egrets are appropriately named as they tend to forage for food near cattle or other large, grazing animals.  They eat insects and other vertebrates spread by these animals.  The birds have also been known to forage behind farm machinery.  Farmers may welcome these birds to their pastures as Cattle Egrets will help control fly and tick populations among cattle.

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson's Phalarope

To view the full gallery of images, please click here.

Great Blue Herons nesting and raising young near Pewaukee in Waukesha County Wisconsin in March of 2009

I discovered a roost in Pewaukee Wisconsin back in 2009. I followed it for a couple months. During that time I watch some of the nest building, adults sitting on eggs and feeding the young. I found out adults bring sticks and branches to the nest as maintenance continues on the nest until the young leave the nest. Food was being bought in from nearby lakes and steams as I watched the adult herons come with food from all directions to the roost area. In that spring I counted 34 nests in this rookery, 18 active. A couple of years later I returned to the area and it had changed drastically. Many of the trees had fallen and the area was no longer being used by the Great Blue Herons.

Great Blue Heron in flight just before landing at the nest

Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing to the nest

Great Blue Heron

Binomial name: Ardea herodias

Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

Size: 46” long, 72” wing span

Weight: 5.3 lb

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Great Blue Heron bringing in a small branch to the nest that must be in need of repair or made stronger or bigger as the young grow

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Great Blue Heron just spending time by the nest

Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing near the nest

Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing near the nest

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron near the nest

Great Blue Heron near the nest

Great Blue Heron near the nest looking around

Great Blue Heron near the nest looking around

Great Blue Heron near the nest stretching

Great Blue Heron near the nest stretching

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron feeding the young with a fish from a nearby lake or stream

Great Blue Heron feeding the young with a fish from a nearby lake, river or stream

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron with young

Great Blue Heron near the nest just watching the young

Great Blue Heron near the nest just watching the young

Rookery from a distance

Great Blue Heron rookery from a distance

Rookery from a distance

Great Blue Heron rookery from a distance

Great Blue Heron rookery from a distance

Great Blue Heron rookery from a distance

Great Blue Herons watching the eggs

Great Blue Herons watching the eggs in the nest

An airplane flies overhead and the young Great Blue Heron just look up and wonder

An airplane flies overhead and the young Great Blue Heron just look up and wonder

Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing at the nest

Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing at the nest

Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing at the nest

Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing at the nest