Great Blue Heron on nest with hatchling
South Carolina, USA
Great Blue Herons nest in large, noisy colonies often located high in trees near water to avoid predators. Pairs build large stick nests, returning to the same site annually to build on top of old ones. They lay 3-5 pale blue eggs, with both parents incubating and raising the chicks.
Males arrive at nesting grounds as early as late January to select sites, with peak egg-laying in March. Both parents share incubation duties for 25–30 days and feed the chicks for 10-12 weeks until they fledge. Parents then take turns feeding the young regurgitated meals.
Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.
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