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Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve |
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The Chick Page |
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These pictures from the end of February to July contain the progression of a Blue Heron nest with three chicks all vying for attention as well as various Least Tern nesting's. |
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The most recent photos are at the top:
Empty nest syndrome. All chicks have flown the coup and the end of an eventful nesting.
A few crabs, two chicks have fledged and one remains
Almost fully developed practicing for lift-off.
Heron’s and Tern’s preparing to fledge.
A Stilts nest
Three heron siblings and some twisting Terns.
The chicks appear almost as adults and will be preparing to be full-fledged Herons very soon.
A 20 minute old Least Tern and the Blue Heron Chicks in a feeding frenzy.
Least Tern chicks, White Egrets playing and Heron chicks stretching their wings hoping to fly soon.
Least Terns incubating, and Heron Chicks fighting over a stick. At the end of the struggle, they dropped the stick and nobody was the winner.
Terns performing aquatic acrobatics and Heron Chicks practicing with their wings.
Terns diving and splashing, Least Terns incubating eggs, and the Heron chicks watching, waiting and growing.
Terns aquatic diving and shuddering maneuvers, and a quick Heron chick feeding.
Terns diving and Heron Chicks growing.
Skimmers, Terns and Heron Chicks with a parent watching over them and the Cormorants starting a nest.
Cormorant nest, Terns and another Heron nest in a Palm tree nearby.
Stilts “Dancing” at Bolsa Chica 5/19/09 Black Necked Stilts dancing with the stars.
Both Parents visiting the Heron Nest, A cormorant party and the nearby Heron mansion of older Heron chicks unwilling to leave the nest due to its lavish and luxurious surroundings.
The neighbors Heron mansion and the young chick biting the Parent’s leg.
Both Parent’s visiting the small chicks.
Pigeon's kissing, the larger Heron nest next-door, and parents bringing in more sticks to make more room for the three chicks along with some daring Pelican maneuvers.
A falcon overhead, Parent’s visiting the chicks and scratching their necks.
Hummingbird antics, and the first Heron chicks grabbing each other’s beaks. A snake in the grass.
No chicks in this group but the Terns are swarming and posing.
A few of the Osprey close-ups.
Preparing the nest, No chicks yet. The first time seeing an Osprey here.
Preparing the nest. Many other birds nearby.
Blue Heron nest building bringing in the first groups of sticks.
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