Choose your Mate, Heron Style

There were several nest site inspections going on this morning in the heronry and pairs of birds were doing a ritual display high in the trees. This is not easy territory for courtship especially in the wind. Those long wings and necks seemed to get tangled in the branches when the males tried to approach the females. Apparently the females have to be submissive and coy to attract a mate, not very modern birds! In their short lifespan of about 5 years, they mate with a different mate each spring. Although I have never spotted more than 2 youngsters in a nest, they can lay up to 10 eggs. I have no idea how researchers get up in these tree tops to count them!

Thanks for visiting yesterday's flying bee blip and leaving so many presents.