The Herons are Back!

Raucous cries echo over the marsh. The great blue herons are back! They shriek and flap in the treetops ringing the marsh, giants jousting for prime nest sites. Over the last few weeks, they’ve drifted in—first, intrepid individuals, and small skeins trailed across the sky. Then a few weeks ago, a cloud of over 150 great blues swept in from the east one morning. I’ve never seen such a huge flock. They swirled over the already-full heronry for a few minutes. Some swooped down into the pines, but most flapped on, disappearing into the western sky.

Nest building is at full tilt now. The birds cruise in, carrying sticks and branches to weave into rough nest-bowls. Many tall pines bristle with four or more nests. In some, females already snuggle eggs under their warm bellies. In a month, new voices will rise as fuzz-capped chicks clamor for food.