Green Heron Nesting photos by Larry Jordan
The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a very interesting bird. They stalk fish in shallow water or dive on them from a perch above. They are also one of the tool-using birds, baiting fish with various items including bread, mayflies and feathers (see video).
So when I got an email from Norm saying he had a bird that looked like a Bittern nesting in his backyard, I asked if I could come over and take some photographs.
Sure enough, he had a pair of Green Herons nesting in one of his Black Birch trees. This is not that unusual considering Norm lives a short heron flight from Mary Lake. These first photos were taken May 18th when the three nestlings were still in the nest.
I returned a couple weeks later to see how the young ones were doing. In the interim, we had some pretty severe weather, with high winds and rain. One of the nestlings had presumably fallen out of the nest and died, leaving two. We found it in the vegetation below the nest.
The remaining two nestlings were hanging out together, waiting for the adults to bring them something to eat.
They were rearranging the sticks around the nest and at one point, one of the chicks snatched this fly that got too close.
They still have their down but their feathers are beginning to develop and they are stretching and flapping their wings.
I thought this was a rather prehistoric pose.
As the time for the nestlings to fledge grows near, I only waited a week to go back to Norm’s for another look. After all, how often do you get to watch Green Herons raise their brood?
When I arrived, the nestlings were no where to be found. We scoured the trees in the yard. Nothing.
Finally we saw some movement, way up in the higher, outer branches of the nest tree.
The nestlings are at least 18 days old at this point. They were partially flying and hopping from branch to branch.
According to Birds of North America Online, at this age, the young will fly all around the nest tree while the parents forage, then fly back to the nest tree when the parents come back to feed them, two or three times a day.
I have, so far, been unable to get photos of the young being fed. My second visit to Norm’s, the adults came in to feed the nestlings while I was there but they snuck around the back side of the nest and it was just a flash of wings and beaks and was over before I could see anything.
Norm has been very gracious with his time and his backyard, allowing me to record this experience and I hope to update this post later this week with, most likely, the last photos of this brood before they leave.
In the meantime, go check out more great bird photos at Bird Photography Weekly!
20 responses so far ↓
1 NatureFooostep Fåglar/Birds // Jun 6, 2010 at 12:40 am
Larry,this is an experience to be envied.
Until yesterday I had not seen this bird even in a photo. And now you give me an entire nesting story. I looked at the videop as well and was amazed. Thanks for this entry. 
.-= NatureFooostep Fåglar/Birds´s last blog ..Rödvingad vadarsvala – Glareola pratincola – Collared Pratincole =-.
2 Mick // Jun 6, 2010 at 2:15 am
How great to be able to watch these birds so closely and to get photos of them as well. Interesting to see the birds with down and feathers developing as well.
.-= Mick´s last blog ..Silver Gull =-.
3 eileen // Jun 6, 2010 at 2:43 am
Awesome shots, Larry! The Green Heron is my favorite of the Herons. What a neat sighting to see the heron chicks. They are so cute.
.-= eileen´s last blog ..Egret and Herons =-.
4 Frank Kratofil // Jun 6, 2010 at 6:13 am
These are great Larry. sure looks like a great experience.
.-= Frank Kratofil´s last blog ..20100605-20100605-DSC_0354 =-.
5 ramblingwoods // Jun 6, 2010 at 8:13 am
Wow and wow again..we have them fishing the pond, but I have no idea where they nest. I love them and they are willing to challenge the great blue for the best fishing on the pond..great Larry.. Michelle
6 Idaho_Birder // Jun 6, 2010 at 1:38 pm
What an amazing experience to be able to document a Green Heron nest and chicks. Great photos and as always a fascinating narrative. Thanks Larry for the birder’s report!
.-= Idaho_Birder´s last blog ..Black-billed Magpie =-.
7 Bob K // Jun 6, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Another great series of shots documenting the progress of the Green Heron babies! Well done, Larry!
.-= Bob K´s last blog ..Tarictic or Treat =-.
8 phil // Jun 7, 2010 at 8:17 am
An opportunity not to miss there Larry and you didn’t waste it with your super photographs and the video. What a bird to have in a garden/backyard!
.-= phil´s last blog ..Six Of The Best =-.
9 gwendolen // Jun 7, 2010 at 10:11 am
Wonderful photo report of the Green Heron. Well done Larry.
.-= gwendolen´s last blog ..Too hot =-.
10 Amy // Jun 7, 2010 at 11:34 am
Wonderful series! What a great thing to see, and what a good friend for letting you know and come over to watch!
11 MaineBirder // Jun 7, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Lucky fella to have these beauties nesting in the backyard!
Excellent photo series Larry! Love the prehistoric pose!
.-= MaineBirder´s last blog ..BPW: Birds and Critters =-.
12 Mumsy // Jun 8, 2010 at 4:06 am
Incredible photos of the green heron. You’re so lucky to watch the whole process of nesting..
.-= Mumsy´s last blog ..Caught Flying =-.
13 Amber Coakley // Jun 8, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Wow, what a treat! I too love that “prehistoric” – looking pose, and the little guy who caught a fly all by himself.
My experience with Green Herons is that they are a secretive species, preferring to stay hidden amongst vegetation. Great job getting photos through the limbs and leaves – I know that takes some work!
.-= Amber Coakley´s last blog ..Darth Vader Fly =-.
14 Jill // Jun 9, 2010 at 3:28 pm
How cool, Larry! I love the photos – those nestling/fledgie shots are great, what cuties! When we were at my parent’s in TN a few weeks ago I saw 5 different Green Herons in the yard . Had to be a nest somewhere! Great post!
15 tash // Jun 10, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Larry, I am so glad you visited me on PVDP…to lead me to these amazing photos of yours. I am in awe again.
.-= tash´s last blog ..Cruising… SkyWatch Friday (Copyright Image of Palos Verdes Daily Photo) =-.
16 Scott // Jun 24, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Fisrt I see the bluebird video and now I come across some great green heron shots. Are you trying to make us all jealous?
.-= Scott´s last blog ..Create wildlife corridors with Ecosystem Gardening =-.
17 dave // Jun 30, 2010 at 5:18 pm
I have followed them for years. They come back to the same nesting spot and raise 2 broods a summer. Interestingly, I have seen the earlier brood flying in at dusk with a parent to apparently guard the new babies who are not yet able to fly. Amazing birds!
18 Nancy // Jul 21, 2010 at 11:15 am
I have one in my yard~he’s been here for about a week. He looks lost!! He stands on the side of the pool and stares into the pool (I think he’s looking for fish). He likes when I talk to him and is starting to get pretty close to us. Should I feed him? I think he’s hungry and he is so cute. He is drinking water from a bowl too. Any similar experiences?? Help!!
19 Black Phoebes Feeding Young | The Birders Report // Aug 1, 2010 at 4:05 pm
[...] in the middle of May, when I was chronicling the Green Herons nesting in Norm’s backyard near Mary Lake, I photographed some other birds in the midst of their breeding cycles. Black [...]
20 Archie Wilson // May 9, 2011 at 5:53 am
I took many pictures of green herons nesting in a bamboo thicket overlooking my koi pond last year. Most are poor quality but I caught a few of the chicks reaching out to the parent for food. I have a pair nesting in the same thicket (new nest though) this year but will not be able to get many pictures because it is deeper in the thicket. Email me if you would like to see the pics from last year.
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