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Posted by Jeanette on 16:09:42 03/29/14
In Reply to: TAS Walk, Wakodahatchee, Green Cay, 3/29/14 posted by Nancy Freedman
I went to Wakodahatchee and part of Green Cay three days earlier this week. It was a perfect day --sunny with the highs near 70 degrees. The place was teaming with activity and the lighting excellent, showing the beautiful coloring of the birds and environment. Later, as we were leaving the boardwalk, I saw a group of people standing watching a scuffling of two birds in the mangroves just north of the entrance. It was between a Great Blue Heron and Green Heron who had a nest in the mangroves with nestlings. I heard the Green Heron with it's loud alarm call and saw the Great Blue standing at the nest. Unable to overcome the large Great Blue Heron, the Green Heron stood on a branch overhanging the water watching the GB Heron intently. The Great Blue heron stood in position by the nest like a sinister statue. We watched, transfixed at this unfolding drama, hoping for the best outcome. The nestling's were already fully covered with grayish downy feathers and had large bright yellow mouths. The little heads had fine feathers standing straight up like straight pins in a pin cushion. We watched through binoculars for movement of the nestlings. They lay flattened and still in the nest as a protective measure I suppose. The Great Blue Heron towering over them stood motionless for 10-15 minutes then turned away from the nest. We were hopeful this was a good sign---maybe it would not attack after all. Then suddenly, in a single swoop it turned and grabbed a nestling, It inched it's way along the branch out into the open with the nestling in it's beak. It proceeded to fly to edge of the near by bank. I moved down further toward the entrance--where I could glimpse the heron dipping the motionless nestling in the water along the banks edge.---It was was a sad sight to see---- and the audience quickly dispersed.
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