There's a small storm water management pond just a few short blocks from our home. Near the end of June 2014 I noticed that there were 4 or perhaps 5 mature Little Green Herons using the pond as a nesting area. One nesting site was eventually discovered hidden deep within the marsh grasses where mom was vigilantly caring for and feeding several chicks.
Photos 1 - 3 were taken in late June. They captured mom returning to the nest with food and looking after her young chicks just barely visible from our vantage point along the edge of the pond.
Photos 4 - 31 were taken 3 weeks later in late July. In that short span the chicks had grown significantly and were about to fledge... in fact a couple of the young ones became adventurous enough to take to the air for short hops from their nesting area to a tree branch 40-50 feet away. Mom, however, still cared for them in terms of bringing them food throughout the day, and (as you can see in the last few photos in this series), all 4 of her chicks had voracious appetites and vigorously competed for mom's attention and a morsel of food.
Photos 32 - 46 were taken 1 week later. The chicks had fledged and were pretty much fending for themselves, with only an occasional assist by mom in feeding them or showing them hunting techniques.
Click the thumbnails for a larger view... or simply click the first thumbnail and then use the right arrow key to display the next photo.
Photography: Stephen Talabac Post Processing: Diana Talabac
Categories & Keywords
Category:Animals
Subcategory:Wildlife
Subcategory Detail:
Keywords:Clarksville, Columbia, Little Green Heron, River Hill, bird, heron, pond, wildlife
