The gift of a stick

The gift of a stick

During the spring the great blue heron prepare the nest for the eggs and soon thereafter the raising of the young .  They nest anywhere from coastal areas to ponds and marshes.  Such a graceful and beautiful bird in flight.  Thanks to specially shaped neck vertebrae, great blue herons can curl their neck into an S shape for a more aerodynamic flight profile and to quickly strike prey at a distance.  I especially love seeing them in spring because their feathers are all fluffed up and their color is accentuated for mating season.  

Wings and feet

In these photographs the male is bringing gifts of sticks taken from nearby trees or abandoned nests to the female.  It is a beautiful sight to see the courtship behavior and interaction between the pair.  I could feel the courtship happening and it brought a smile to my face.  Mother nature really is beautiful.

Great Blue Heron in Flight

Did you know the great blue heron is the largest heron in North America?