This FFF features a face that only a mother could love. Here we have a darling little Green Heron fledgling. We found this little guy right outside of our old apartment in Boca Raton, FL in mid-May 2009. We were lucky to have a man-made pond there that attracted a number of herons and egrets, Green Herons being no exception. Often when we'd walk by, we'd spook one that we may not have even seen until he took flight.
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| Green Heron fledgling |
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| Showing off his stubby wing feathers |
Green herons are quite a funny heron. The first one we saw was in the typical crouched position with his neck tucked in. And the next time we saw one, we saw it with its neck fully extended, and we were astonished! "Could this be the same bird?!?!" we wondered. And we quickly found out that it was, and we've been entertained by this funny little heron ever since.
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| He kept falling asleep... Awww... |
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| What a fuzzball! |
This little fuzzball here was all on his own, it appeared, when we found him. I recall it being a bit breezy, and he was just clinging on to dear life onto the delicate branches of this bush. But he held on strong even though he looked so fragile. We watched him for what seemed like an hour, just mesmerized by this almost so-ugly-he's-cute baby. This may have been one of the first baby birds we encountered after becoming birders.
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| Showing off the typical Green Heron stance |
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| HELLLOOOO!!! |
The last photo is of another baby Green Heron that seemed to have a little more gusto as he was venturing out on his own and strutting about, feeling that stretch in his neck! We didn't relocate these fledglings afterwards, but I'm sure they stuck around the pond, stealthily lurking about as Green Herons do.
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| Sweetness |
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| Strutting his stuff! |
Neat. I've never noticed how wrinkled and soft the beak looks on these chicks. At this stage, did these chicks still hunt and feed like normal herons?
ReplyDeleteCool pictures, thanks for sharing.
Hmmm, I didn't notice that about their beaks. In person it didn't seem particularly soft. I'm guessing that the little ones may hunt like the adults, but probably start off with bugs.
DeleteAwww, I think this little one is adorable. It does look a bit awkward, but I love its fuzzy feathers. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tammy! He is a great awkward little guy!
DeleteWhat a wonderful set of photos! I was in Savannah in February, speaking to a Book Club on Skidaway Island, and now I'm determined to set one of my Bob White Birder Murder Mysteries in the area. That way, I get to go back and spend more time there!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Took a look at your blog.. Your books look so fun! Glad you stopped by our blog!
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