Nesting Season

Great blue herons have started nesting season in the Chicago area. It's fascinating to watch, and may be worth another blip or two in the coming days.

The male heron flies from the island where the heron rookery is located, and in most cases lands in someone's backyard on the west bank of the Fox River.  The male picks up sticks (helping clean the person's yard!) and carries these nest materials back to the waiting female. He hands off the stick to the female who builds the nest. Heron nests can be repaired and reused from year to year.

Extra photo: male heron about to hand off a stick to the female. Counted 38 heron and about a dozen nests. In the extra photo there are apparently unattached heron hanging out waiting for a mate.