GBHE Watch 2005

I do not know why there were no notes posted for Jan and Feb. I have misplaced my note book in my move, but know that I had visited the Rookery before March 20. Even with my move from the house in Saratoga to the townhouse in Los Gatos I had visited the colony.  I did do two birding trips (and more trips home to New York than planned)  one to Montana for Owls (the thrill of a life time to hold and have banded a Long-eared Owl Chick...be still my heart) and a trip to Oregon for Woodpeckers...perhaps you heard my screams of joy when seeing the Pileated Woodpecker for the first time...actually a pair...I had been looking for them for five years....Hmmmm, did you hear the big news...An Ivory-billed Woodpecker was found. OH MY GOD!

(As soon as I can I will post more notes from 2005 and pictures)

March 20, 2005

The latest news is that two chicks have been born to Nest 4.  They are usually the first nest to have their babies and again this year they came through.  I have collected to egg shells.

Since we are having so much rain I am praying that the other nests come through well. Also, need to pray that the new chicks will survive the rains (and cold). Rain at this time for nesting herons is just awful.  They can lose the eggs and or the chicks due to the cold rains.

March 23, 2005

Three more chicks have been born. Nest 2 is now the proud parents of three chicks.

Remember when the chicks are born the herons go from incubating to brooding.

March 24, 2005

NEW NEST:  Nest 10 is in the process of being constructed.  Saw this happening last night. Went to check on the herons at sunset and found the herons exchanging places for the night.  Lots of calls and feeding of new chicks.  Also this is when I spotted a pair building a new nest.  This nest will be nest 10 and it's going to be a challenge watching this nest as it is covered by lots of twigs and leaves.

A single year old heron (yearling) was trying to fly into on the nests last night and all hell broke loose....lots of flying and noise (their barking call) It was truly amazing to watch.  I seem that each year at least one young male tries to enter each nest and the pairs on them will not stand for it.....this year was no different.

April 24, 2005 is the planned date for the Salute to Vasona's Great Blue Herons.  SFBBO will be present as well as myself to talk about the herons.  Come out and take a look through the many scopes that will be there.  By then the babies should be begging for food and playing with each other!

April 11, 2005

Checked on the herons today.  We have 8 yes 8 active nest... Nest 1,2, 4, 7 and 9 were the first nests to lay eggs, then came Nest 10 (incubating now), then Nest 11 also incubating now and Nest 12 which is still bringing twigs and I believe in the egg laying stage?  Bringing twigs could also be a sign of new babies...let's wait and see....

Nest 1 has four chicks, Nest 2 has three chicks, Nest 4 has three chicks, nest 7 can't tell yet, and Nest 9 has two fuzzy chicks.

Notes to Remember:  Nest 3 fell, Nest 5 was taken apart by the herons two years ago, Nest 6 was taken apart by the herons this year.  Nest 8 was on the backside of this colony is no longer there.  Remember t hat I number the nests as they enter or are built into the colony.  So we are up to Nest 12. How cool is that!!!  I am hoping to break the 19 chick count of 2001...Looks like we will have a great chance of doing that...Stay tuned.

April 12, 2005  Sunny 56 degrees

What a great day at Vasona.  There were herons flying in and out of the rookery all day longs....chicks can be heard as soon as you get out of the car....Ah, all is well at the colony.

Surprises today: You BET! That Nest 12 is complete with chicks....so the twig bringing represented babies being born....I count two new chicks....How exciting is this...

Count as of 4/12/05: Nest 1 - four chicks, Nest 2 - three chicks (possible 4), Nest 7 still incubating, Nest 9 - two chicks, Nest 10 - 2 chicks and still counting, Nest 11 & 12 are incubating. Getting a complete count on Nest 12 is going to be tough...it's buried deep in the twigs and leaves.

Overall wrap up:  Things are progressing nicely at the colony.  Eight nests are up and running. You can hear chicks loudly now and they are a true joy to watch.  Remembering that the first chicks were born on or about March 20th ...the chicks are three weeks old already and you can see how fast they are growing.  No real disturbances.  Crows wer landing in the rookery but the herons didn't seem bothered by them.

A note on the water levels....the Santa Clara Valley Water District is planning to lower the creek and lake to it's lowest point ever to take pictures on April 18th.  I have been in contact with Mr. Arnold about how this will affect the herons.  I should hear back from him on Wednesday.  I think the herons are fishing (since they only need feed fish to the chicks at this age) out at Oka Ponds and Campbell Ponds.  I believe the GBHE Adults are eating the [pocket gophers and voices.

May 15, 2005  70 degrees Sunny, clear and hot in the sun

Did my four hour study for SFBBO...here are the results in a nut shell....

Nest 1 has four chicks about seven weeks old, preening, branch walking, testing their wings and being fed by parents whole fish.

Nest 2 has three chicks about seven weeks old.  preening, branch walking, testing their wings and were looking to be fed by parents....did not get fed the whole time I was there.

Nest 4 has four chicks about seven - eight weeks old, first nest to hatch chicks, they are branch walking all over the colony and short flights within the colony's tree.

Nest 7 has three chicks about three- four weeks old, a parent is still at the nest with the chicks.

Nest 9 has two chicks about six weeks old, preening and standing on the edge of the nests.

Nest 10 has three chicks about 2-3 weeks old with a parent still with the chicks.

Nest 11 has three chicks about 2-3 weeks old with parents still with the chicks.

Nest 12 has four chicks about 7 weeks old, branch walking, short flights to tops of the same colony trees.

All and all things are going great. There as a chick in Nest 2 that walked to the top of the tree and and Osprey flew over very low and the chicks responded with a loud squawk. Very interesting that at its young age it knew that it could be a threat (didn't know that Ospreys only eat fish)...a gold star for the herons!

We have a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks nesting down from the Great Blue Herons, they have three possible four chicks, and a Killdeer nesting with three eggs. I think the Killdeer chicks could have a problem if the GBHEs come down to deed...it will be interesting to watch what happens.

June 3, 2005

Did my four hour study today.  Here is the short of it:

Nest 1 - one chick in nest, Nest 2 empty, Nest 4 empty, Nest 7 - one chick in nest, Nest 9 empty, Nest 10 has two chicks and Nest 11 has 1 Chick, Nest 12 is empty.

8 Nests, 25 chicks, 20 chicks have fledged. 5 still in nests.  Three flew down to check out the creek and flew back tot he nest . One Great Egret has taken up residence in one nest!

June 18, 2005

Another four hour study:

All nest empty except noted below:

Nest 10 & 11 still have one chick each in the nest.  should be gone by 6/30/05. No feedings. Chicks alert, branch walking, lots of flapping.  All quiet in the colony.

June 27, 2005

I am closing the 2005 season as all nests are empty.

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