feeding time .....

[earthmother45]

I was recently down at Venice Rookery and able to get some photos of a Great Blue Heron mother and her two kids at feeding time. There was a big display of excitement and affection and lots of clacking noise before they finally got to eat. There’s 22 pictures and I hope you don't mind so many, but I don’t think I’ve ever shown this before and

Comments

[earthmother45]

I love where they turn their necks and rub the tops of their heads on mama. So endearing. You could sure tell they were hungry, but they had to get the loving in first.

[thagirion]

Awesome pics. Yes baby birds eat a lot. I'm a breeder, I know. Birds that need meat like this need even more and they are big birds. It's amazing what they can swallow.

[earthmother45]

Thanks!

Yes, and they swallow everything whole! I've watched them swallow big snakes and fish bigger than this. Hmmmmm.... I wonder which one of the kids got the fish.

[egg_shell]

Neat! I was looking up the feeding routine and came across this video and thought you might like it, if you hadn't seen it before this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgz0f7MFDYc It is of the very first meal the babies get from mama.

[earthmother45]

I love the video! It was so interesting to watch mama and how she kind of knew the food was too much or too big for them and took it back after letting them try it. She was so careful moving around before she sat down. Wow! five eggs. I wonder if they will all make it. I've never seen more than three hatch or survive in a nest before. Thanks!

[plantmom]

I love this video! We've been to Cornell - my hubby went to college there - and Sapsucker Woods in particular is fascinating. Thank you both so much!