082816 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-there-s-a-lot-you-can/article_392eb930-3446-58e9-8829-34ad80e87178.html

The Clutch 6 Green Herons See More of the World's Events

                                                        Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 6

                                             
                                                       Adult Green Heron (Foreground)
                                                 and Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 6 (Rear)

                                                       
                                                         Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 6
                                                                 Right After Feeding

                                                     Green Heron Adult Below Chicks

                                                       Green Heron Chick, Clutch 6

                                                                             Ditto

                                                       Both Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 6


Tuesday, 08-16-16

0720-0928 hrs./66-77 degrees F/partly cloudy/6 mph S winds/65% RH


This was a very eventful day for these chicks.  They got to see and make themselves very
small in the area of a Mississippi Kite.  They didn't know it, but the kite only eats insects.
Great Blue Heron, who vocalizes a great deal, was also on the left snag while they were in
the center tree at The Cove.  They started out in the shaded left side of the tree, and the last
photo shows them on the right side.

After they were fed by the adult, it appeared that they were trying very hard to go to where
the adult was, which was under their nest tree.  The adult waited there for about five to ten
minutes, I believe just hoping for that,  However, neither of them trusted their flight abilities.
They moved instead to the right side of the tree, them soon went within it.

Great Egret was on The Cove for a short time, having landed on the right snag, but left after
I was observed.  That could be enough reason why the little ones have been staying in their own
tree.

082116 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-as-always-nature-will-provide/article_7e1f20c8-0111-5eda-b233-b3a74d71d0d0.html

Catching Up on News and Green Heron Chicks Shine On

Eldest Green Heron, Clutch 6

                                                                             Ditto

                                                                          Ditto

                                                                  Green Heron Adult

                                                         Green Heron Chick, Clutch 6
                                                           Immediately After Feeding

                                                                   Great Blue Heron
                                                              Stands Fast on His Snag

                                                          Green Heron Chick, Clutch 6
                                                           Reacts to Sights and Sounds

                                                         Green Heron Chick, Clutch 6
                                                 "That's My Story, and I'm Stickin' to It"

                                                                      Great Blue Heron
                                                                  "Got My Eye on You"

                                                                         Great Egret

                                                                Blue-gray Gnatcatcher


Sunday, 08-14-16

69-83 degrees F (feels like 86)/0720-1100 hrs./partly cloudy/13 mph NE winds/52% RH


It is definitely time for that cool change, and it was actually a pleasure to walk over three miles
to Boomer Creek, which I had not been able to inspect for a couple of months, since the last storm
knocked down so many of the snags that the Bald Eagles would perch on while surveying their
territory.

We also lost the snag on the north end of the lake proper, which was home to a Red-bellied
Woodpecker before it was usurped by European Starlings in 2012.  The following year, it was
home to Downy Woodpeckers.  This was the finest year, as we had breeding Great Crested
Flycatchers, as you might recall.  When it turned unbearably hot, I was not able to return to see
the young fledge.  There had definitely been young ones.

This was day four for our brave little Green Herons, who stayed out of Great Blue Herons way.
Even the parent worked around him in order to get food to the youngsters, but all was well.  It
was truly a beautiful day in the neighborhood with many other birds, including the Downy Woodpecker, Mississippi Kite, and Baltimore Oriole, just to pique your interest.

081416 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-marvelling-at-nature/article_508d207e-8994-5e2f-86bf-fc9c1242cb33.html

And the Prognosis Is, Clutch 6

                                              Clutch 6 Green Heron chick and Adult (Left)

                                                    Green Heron Chick, Clutch 6, Day 1

                                                               Green Heron Adult


Thursday, 08-11-13

0720-0914 hrs/78-86 degrees F (feels like 93)/partly cloudy/8-11 mph S winds/83-63% RH

Since I worked in the early morning the day before, this clutch 6 chick could have been out on
Wednesday.  Since the adults were hanging around, it was odd for them, because if there are no
eggs or chicks, they are out looking for food sources and have no reason to be at a nest sight.
Since that struck me as odd, I thought it best to stay awhile,  yet I didn't have long to wait.  One
of the adults flew to the nest tree, and out comes this ball of fluff wanting to be fed.  For some
reason, this tree has been hosting younger than average birds that want to be out in the world.
The little one wasn't out long, as sun and tender skin don't mix, so our little heron retreated back
into the cover of its willow tree.

                                                      Both Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 6

                                                       Green Heron Adult After Feeding
                                                                Both Clutch 6 Chicks

                                                        Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 6

                                                    Oldest Green Heron Chick, Clutch 6

                                                                  Adult Green Heron

                                                        Green Heron Chick, Clutch 6

Yesterday--Saturday, 08-13-16
69-83 degrees F (feels like 86)/0730-1030 hrs./partly cloudy13 mph NE winds/52% RH

There are two bouncing chicks today, and both of them want their share, and they got it.  A third adult was seen today on the sidelines and under clutch 5's former snag, so I am wondering if there might be
a clutch 7 in waiting.  Time will tell on that one.  These young ones are fit and have been receiving as
much food as they can handle.  They were out a little longer, and fortunately temperatures were much more palatable, for both the little ones and me.  The bright sun will keep them in until they have better body covering, but it won't take long.  They have been alert, watching ducks that fly by, and
Great Blue Heron set up shop near them, but they do their best to avoid him.

The adult Green Heron was trying to get the little ones motivated to come out of the tree, but they
would have none of that--yet.  It won't be long, and they could pick either one of the snags as home
base.  It will depend on where Great Blue Heron happens to be perched, as he has been there before
they come out of their tree.  The other clutches were usually out by the crack of 8, but these little
ones are out a little earlier, even with a later sunrise.

Is It Always That Hard to Get Those Green Heron Teens Out of the House?

                                                              Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

                                                         Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 5

     
                                               Adult Green Heron Feeding Clutch 5 Chick

                                                                          Ditto

                                                         Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 4


Monday, 08-01-16

0711-0845 hrs./75-83 degrees F/partly cloudy/37-31% RH/10 mph S winds

It is getting later in the season and it is time to get these birds growing faster and moving about
more.  These message is quite clear with the adult's behavior.  These birds could be on the move
by the middle of the month, UNLESS they decide that they are going to raise more young ones.  Once the young birds are gone, there really is no reason for them to stay here, so we'll soon see what their plans are going to be.

                                                       Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 4

                                                         Green Heron Chick, Clutch 4

                                               Adult Green Heron Leaves Clutch 5 Chick

                                              Adult Green Heron Flies by Clutch 4 Chicks

                                                         Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 4

                                                         Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 4

                                                           Green Heron Chicks, Clutch 5

                                                     All Green Heron Chicks in Clutch 4


Tuesday, 08-02-16

0710-0928 hrs./79-85 degrees F (feels like 87)/partly cloudy/13 mph SSW winds/53% RH

All juvenile Green Herons are still on The Cove, but they won't be around much longer, the
way that the parents are trying to encourage flight.  Today they have been flying back and forth
several times, hoping to get the young ones to follow.  One clutch 4 bird actually did and was
gone for a short while.  There is no doubt that the adults want these youngsters out of here, but
they are hard to convince.

                                                      Green Heron Juvenile, Clutch 4

                                                                   Adult Green Heron

                                                       Green Heron Juvenile, Clutch 4

                                                           Green Heron Juvenile, Clutch 4

                                                                          Ditto

                                                         Green Heron Juvenile, Clutch 5

                                                       Adult Mallard, Missing Right Eye

                                                        Green Heron Juvenile, Clutch 4

                                                                             Ditto

                                                        Green Heron Juvenile, Clutch 4

                                                                             Ditto

                                                          Last Two Clutch 4 Juveniles


Wednesday, 08-04-16

82-88 degrees F/0716-0909 hrs./partly cloudy/8 mph SSW winds/63% RH

Our youngsters are starting to get the idea that sort flights are the key to survival when they
are out of their parents' care.  It also seems that they have an interest in the center tree, as they
all are pointing in that direction.  That leads me to believe that we have more youngsters on the
way, which is surprising, but very possible.

                                                        Green Heron Juvenile, Clutch 4

                                                                Green Heron Adult

                                                        Green Heron Juvenile, Clutch 4

                                                                 Green Heron Adult


Sunday, 08-07-16

76-83 degrees F (feels like 89)/0758-1024 hrs./mostly cloudy/8 mph NE winds/72% RH

Both parents are working very hard and are almost in a frenzied state to get our illustrious
young birds OUT OF HERE.  It is as plain as the nares on their bills that they need to find
another place to stay.


Monday, 08-08-16

All the juvenal birds that are left are the youngest two, one from clutch 4 and one from clutch 5.


Tuesday, 08-09-16

0800-0915 hrs./77-81 degrees F (feels like 87)/partly cloudy/80-74% RH/light and variable SE winds

The two youngest, one from each clutch, 4 and 5, are hiding in the shadows of the shore.  Great Blue
Heron and Great Egret are under the impression that this area now is free once again.  No adults were in sight wen I passed by.  I think that they're in for a rude awakening...