Those wonderful juvenile great blue herons are migrating west to the Hudson River. I felt bad for this skinny youngster at Oglevie’s Pond that couldn’t seem to catch a fish. If only I could get it into my backyard I would stock my hot tub. Fingers crossed that at least half of the new bird babies make it.
Young Great Blue Heron
Young Grackle
Young Robin
Bottoms Up
It’s all about the herons around here. The great blue heron fledglings have flown the coop and are now finding their way along the Hudson River or points east. These little green herons must have figured out that there is safety in numbers. The Canadian geese are thriving.
My favorite totem, the great white egret, entertained me. The purple martins are seriously thinking about a new home. Local, ordinary birds were just doing their thing. And butterflies flitted.
It won’t be long now before this big girl takes to the skies. She was flapping like crazy out of cam view on the west side of 101 Hudson. It looked to me like she would fly any minute. She is so big that if she keeps her wings out she will not fall hard if she goes down. In the past, the adults have flown on either side of a first time fledgling and provided draft to keep their offspring aloft. This girl is almost twice the size of the male, so I hope he is an excellent aerialist.
New pair took a long enough time to say that the scrape on the top of 101 Hudson Jersey City was OK to raise a family. Here are Juliet and unbanded male and their new eyas enjoying the ledges and terraces. Please be kind. I took these photos from 7 floors up and 2 blocks away. The ledges are 40 floors up.
I have the best friends. Best friends share their backyard birds. I believe it is very unusual for bluebirds to nest in a backyard. However, when the yard backs up to the woods with an unlimited bug buffet, who says a yard is off limits for nesting.
The heron symbolizes good luck, especially when fishing. According to Native American legend it is also a solitary, patient creature. Life has been filled with herons recently, along with a new bird, the purple martin.
Great White Egret
Little Green Heron
Great Blue Heron Rookery – Ready to Fledge
Purple Martin at New Nest
Eastern Kingbird
Mockingbird Mocking
The Bedford Rookery is humming, squawking, squirming with excitement. It is almost time for the young to fledge. I’m not sure if the adults take care of young that are not theirs.
This is what is left of the perching tree in the Croton Train Station estuary. The snowy egret and cormorant must be having quite the conversation.
Hey, bro, what’s down there?
Red-tail hawk mom showing the kids how to perch on the end of the dead branch
Red-tail hawk fledgling learned the lesson
How am I doing, Bonnie?
One just prays at least half of them survive. Our red-tailed hawk family is just about ready to expand their territory. Look out snakes and rats! The male dropped off a very small morsel and the eyases bawled him out. This is a sign that the youngsters are ready to take flight. Both adults have triangulated on nearby trees to keep an eye on this adventurous group. Mallard ducklings were out in force with their parents. Momma kept ten in tow while Dad guarded the pond. The goose family has not been so lucky. There were two goose families on the beach. One set had three goslings left and the other pair had only two. They waddled directly under the red-tail tree. I have seen the red-tails with a gosling or two being prepped. Sad. One goose pair at the Croton Boat Ramp are fairing well with their bagel diet. The other pair is only allowing the young to eat grass and bugs.
This appears to be the most ready to fly. Notice ‘his’ similar coloring to his mother.
Almost Ready to See A New World
What’s Next?
Momma Mallard Takes Ten
Proud Poppa Peruses His Pride – notice his molting plumage
Goose Goslings Get Going – Male seems to be herding a straggler
Feeding Lesson
