Scruffy Adolescents hanging around in the park with nothing to do

[Tronhard]

The mating season for herons seems to have been later this year. The parents seem to have taken off and have left their maturing offspring to look after the nests. Frankly, they are just hanging around on branches doing nothing except posing for photos - probably if they could use a cellphone they would be taking selfies...







Images taken hand held with Canon EOS 7D MkII, EF-L 100-400 Mk II + 1.4 Mk III extender.

[John 2]

Nice series with a nicely disguised title.

[pnodrog]

I knew I was being sucked in by the title but I trusted you that it would be worth it.

It was nice shots. Look a bit more colourful than the ones I am familiar with. What brand of herons are they?

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Tronhard]

Thanks for your response Paul!

I believe the herons are actually Great Blue herons, but someone told me the juveniles have this tint on them until they develop into full adults when it turns to a whitish shade of grey. I'm not sure about that but it's all I've got. It would make sense as the colour variation broke the shape of the birds up and made them harder to see, as per the shot below the adults don't have that colouration, and they look a lot "tidier".





I note that the adult looks a lot sleeker with a pronounced crest on top. I think the "scruffiness" of the young is again another adaptation to break up their profile - that's my theory anyway, but I will bow to any serious ornithologists in that one...

I knew I was being sucked in by the title but I trusted you that it would be worth it.

It was nice shots. Look a bit more colourful than the ones I am familiar with. What brand of herons are they?

[Wavelength]

Excellent images....

[bnnrcn]

Very nice set Trev The last one is my fav . There is a distracting dark part above the beak in the 4th image . I think it is a silhouette of a bird and its reflection. I would clone it if the image was mine.

[NorthernFocus]

Presumably you are currently on this side of the pond in which case they are surely GBHs. It's amazing how such beautiful creatures grow from such hideous youth.

[Tronhard]

Hi Dan:

Yes I am indeed on the warmer half of the planet at present, and happy to be so!

I think the comment about youth can apply to us too sometimes!

Presumably you are currently on this side of the pond in which case they are surely GBHs. It's amazing how such beautiful creatures grow from such hideous youth.

[NorthernFocus]

...I think the comment about youth can apply to us too sometimes!

In physical appearance perhaps. But in what matters most we seem to have the process reversed for the most part.

And don't you ALWAYS reside in the warmer/better lit hemisphere?

[Tronhard]

Well, it's a habit I have been enjoying for the last few years, but not likely to continue (alas). I am selling my place in Victoria, BC and moving permanently back to NZ. Not that I am complaining, most people would give a body part to live there, but I will have to experience winters again.

In physical appearance perhaps. But in what matters most we seem to have the process reversed for the most part.

And don't you ALWAYS reside in the warmer/better lit hemisphere?

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Do you know if they are capable of flight at that age?

[Tronhard]

Good question Alan.

Actually I think that is the issue for them. The seem to be tied to the local area, so I THINK they are capable of short hops but need to strengthen their flying muscles to go further afield, hence their tendency to hang around not doing much. They occasionally fly around the park so I think it's a development period for them.

Do you know if they are capable of flight at that age?

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Their 'camo' feathering would hide them from predators then if that's the case. Not being able to flee would be a real detriment to longevity if you can't hide well.

[Tronhard]

Yep, I agree. I have noticed that as the birds are able to fly more their scruffiness and coloured feathers are replaced by more efficient flight feathers. Normally any kind of adaption is for a purpose follows the principles of natural selection would indicate that those birds that developed a scruffy profile and colouration splotches would be harder to hunt and therefore dominate the gene pool.

Rather like people who cross roads watching their cell phone will cease to be part of the gene pool!

Their 'camo' feathering would hide them from predators then if that's the case. Not being able to flee would be a real detriment to longevity if you can't hide well.

[Cantab]

Trev, have you noted any bald eagles in the park area recently? I remember reading there was a real issue a few years ago of eagles raiding the heron nests in the park area. But these adolescent great blue herons look like they're beyond the size range that even an eagle would bother with.

Your heron shots may spur me on to process and perhaps even post my eaglet shots from the nest in Sidney where a pair of eagles raised three eaglets and a hawk chick. I was a bit slow getting out to Sidney so never managed to get a shot of the hawk before (or after) it fledged but I'm even slower at pp'ing and then posting.

[Tronhard]

Hi Bruce:

I have not seen eagles in the park near the herons for a couple of years now. It would have made for interesting photography is they had been, but I suspect that sentiment would not be echoed by the herons!

[Tronhard]

Hi Binnur

Thanks for you eagle-eyed observation. Never let it be said I would miss your good advice (which I admit I did initially)! Howzat??

Very nice set Trev The last one is my fav . There is a distracting dark part above the beak in the 4th image . I think it is a silhouette of a bird and its reflection. I would clone it if the image was mine.

[bnnrcn]

Better Trev

Hi Binnur

Thanks for you eagle-eyed observation. Never let it be said I would miss your good advice (which I admit I did initially)! Howzat??