HOOKED ON HERONS

What have you been up to lately? Me? Well, I have a new addiction.

Yes, It's hard to admit it but it's true. I heard about these tall blue beautiful feathered friends and had to check them out. One hit and I was hooked!

You will be hooked on this pair of Great Blue Herons, too.

Here is the LIVE web site Hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Sapsucker Woods Pond, Ithaca, New York.  http://www.livestream.com/cornellherons




Not tempted yet? Just wait to you see the 5 cute fuzzy's that are sleeping under Mom!

Told you! They are absolutely adorable when they are playing Beak Boxing! 


The stream is live 24/7 and has 2 cameras. Camera 1 is eye view on the nest and can watch the Mom and Dad tag team their duties like keeping the Fids in line, snuggling them up to keep warm and dolling out lots of fish and frogs for meals. Oh do they love their meals. But within minutes of eating the go into a Fish Coma! The act of bobbing their heads on their long necks to eat totally wears them out! Camera 2 is above the nest and can scan in and out which is wonderful when things are happening in the nest but also to pan over the pond. The can pan the cameras wide angled to watch Mom fish or just preen full sized like in this picture below. She's beautiful, huh?

Mom laid 5 pretty blue eggs which is more the average of 4 but she is no average Mom! 


Chicks 1 & 2 hatched late in the evening on April 27th while being cared for by Dad. Both started off making a fashion statement wearing "Shellmets", half the eggshell on their heads! I think it's gonna be the new style for Fall.


Chick 3 wastes no time cracking(pipping) the shell  with him "Egg Tooth" and hatching late on April 28th, again while Dad was caring. Yes, it's a real thing! Here is an article with everything you would ever want to know. 
http://www.birdchannel.com/the-egg-tooth

Chick 4 is a bit slower but a "Pip" is visible on April 29th went Dad urps(regurgitates) fish up for the 3 hungry chicks waiting eagerly! After their fill they instantly go into "Fish Comas". Good job Dad! To all watching they are given a surprise the next time Dad stands to stretch, # 4 has hatched while Dad was sitting on them! Dad cleans up the nest and drops the eggshell out and then there was 4 fuzzy's... and 1 egg!

Over the next few days we are all watching form the edge of our sofa's waiting for #5 to join the crew but he was laid a few days after #4 and so he's got time to spare and gonna use it!  Finally late on May 1st we all see a little Pip in the photo below and he's starting. I think he has heard how much fun the other 4 are having with all their chatter.

Each day Mom and Dad trade out caring for their family from a few minutes to 20 hours. Then on May 3rd at 3 pm the 5th chick is out as Dad is watching. Dad just happen to be there for all the hatchings! You can see chick 5 in the picture below, right in the middle, snuggling up to the others. See his little beak resting to the left and his tiny wings? Smaller than others but very mighty when it come to food!

These still pictures are cute but do not compare to seeing everything happen live! Like when Mom had to go through a rough night of strong rain, thunder and lightening while keeping her 5 fuzzy's warm and safe! or when they both at separate times got attacked in the dead of the night by a very large and dangerous Great Horned Owl. Mom actually lost her long black head feathers from one of the attacks. Dad still has his and is one way to tell them apart quickly.


Please check this incredible, once in a lifetime event and you'll get hooked, as I am! Also, if you can please support their effort of hosting this stream without commercials by giving a donation in any amount on the main page!!! it's a great Mother's Day gift, too!!


http://www.livestream.com/cornellherons