GBHE Watch 2007

                                                       nest 11                      Nest 2

        nest 12        nest 4     nest 9          nest 1                              nest 7

January 10, 2007 

The Great Blue Herons are back at Vasona.... Today I had pairs in nest 1 and 2, with a single male in nest 4.  I will take pictures and post them to this site.  Isn't it great...another year of Great Blue Herons breeding....

January 13, 2007  Saturday      44 degrees brrrr.....

Today was a great birding day at Vasona.  I was able to locate a new female....she was trying to catch voles in the ground.  She has a good facial marking for me to keep track of her.  The other five herons were along the left side of the dam. All actively hunting for food. 

On a birder's note today:  15 Black-crowned Night Herons, 1 Green Herons, 7 Snowy Egrets, 54 Killdeers. 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Snipe (a new park bird), 1 Cackling Goose mixed in the 100 regular Canada Geese, Red-tailed Hawk juvenile at the GBHE Colony just sitting there.

January 18, 2007   2:30 PM  60 degrees

Just a note: I have been stopping by vasona on a daily basis since I got back from costa rica on 1/8/07.....

What an awesome day....the weather just beautiful and a great day to watch the herons.  Upon arriving at Vasona this afternoon, I was thrilled to pieces to see herons on the nests.... Breeding is in full swing and now that the weather has warmed we can expect two nests to be laying eggs as mating occurred in Nest 1 and Nest 9.  Single males on Nest 2, 4 and 11.....lots of squabbling between males when flying in with twigs for the females.  I will be watching for the single males to be trying to enter/steal the females of the other nests or the attempt of mating with already paired females. 

The herons this year are just beautifully adorned with long plumes.  Their adult size is making it hard for me to tell the males from the females when separated.  I have been trying to study the facial patterns of each herons as each one is like a fingerprint all unto its own. 

Beautiful Male now on Nest 10..... See the spot behind his eye 

that is how i will tell this male at the nest.

Mating at Nest 9 on 1/18/07

Male at Nest 1 quite a beauty....

Female in Nest 1 notice how small her bill is compared to

the male above.....

January 26 sunny 67 degrees

I have been stopping by the colony on a daily basis... all different times of the day ......

What a beautiful day at Vasona.  Upon arriving I was thrilled to see Nest 2 occupied by a male and a female sitting off to the side trying to come into the nest.  The male was being standoffish and I waited three hours for her to finally be able to set down into the nest. (I kept saying, hey, buddy let her in the nest...stop being so picky, there are other guys there you know)..... The male then flew off to get a twig....I waited another hour and he still hadn't picked the right one...so I gave up and went home. 

While there for the four hours I watched Nest 1 ... it had a female standing and sitting in the nest.  I wonder if this means eggs!  I did see them mate the week before....could her clutch be complete by now? 

Also, the pair in Nest 9 are doing well.... the rest of the single herons are playing switch the nest....

February 1  51 degrees...cold and overcast....cold day

I have been stopping by the colony each day to check on the progress of the herons.  The single males still are playing switch the nest, but we have herons in Nest 1, 4, 9, 12 and 10....  The herons have been watched feeding on the lawns and along the creek. 

Today I checked the nest over at the Campbell Ponds 1 and a beautiful single male is waiting for a female. Last year this nest produced two chicks. It will be interesting to see how this single nest progresses....

Will post new pictures by tomorrow.

I would like to announce that on April 28 (rain date May 5) from 11 to 3PM we will hold the 3rd annual salute to Vasona's Great Blue Herons sponsored by vasona and san Francisco bay bird observatory.

come out an look through San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory's volunteer's scopes and learn about the Great Blue Herons.  By then we should have chicks.  There will be lots to see and learn.  Bring the children as we will have scopes at all levels to accommodate everyone.  This is a great learning experience for all ages.

I will have poster boards with pictures of the colony as well as new pictures of what herons eat.  I will have a replica egg and skull .... So please join us and share in the salute to Vasona's Great Blue Herons.

February 3, 2007   44 degrees at 8AM warming to 58 at 12:30 AM

Did a four hour plus study today....what an experience .... upon arrival I looked up and found 10 herons at the colony.  Just sheer delight (even though I was cold)....it warmed up nicely....

I took a count of nests....we have 7 nests visible in the colony. Nest 11 has been taken apart and no longer to be counted.

Nest 1 had a beautiful pair and as I watched during my four hours, the male got a twig for the female, presented it to her, she placed it in the nest and they mated. Eggs should be forth coming in a day or two.

Nest 2 finally had a pair....they were together, then he flew off and she remained by herself for the time I was there.

Nest 4 is empty

Nest 7 is empty

Nest 9 had the greatest activity today, or it could be that I focused on this nest due to the fact that a male let a female into the nest and they did a stare down for two hours....they switched places, more stare down, and he wouldn't get a darn twig....he left her in the nest after 3 1/2 hours of watching and flew off...gosh I hope he went for a twig!

Nest 10 had a pair....female in the nest, male standing above.

Nest 12 empty

With four nests taken and thee to be filled, there is plenty of room for the herons that did not occupy any nest today.  A pair of undecided herons....nest 12 no let's see nest 4, no not that one how about nest 10...oops that one is taken... this pair has still yet to settle in...I think we should have a full colony very soon. 

I took lots of pictures and I have to clean them up and add them...hopefully I can sift through the 400 plus shots I have taken over the past week....Yikes, what's wrong with me....you would think I am hooked on the herons...wink, wink....

WEEK STARTING FEBRUARY 4....

I will give you all a just the notes I have taken on this weeks Colony.  It has been a long week and hopefully the coming week will be much better for the male heron in Nest 1....

2/4/07  Call from the Wild Bird Center in Los Gatos at 4:30PM: They received a call from Vasona (Ranger Mark) said that a couple found a Great Blue Heron in distress at the waters edge.  I called Ranger Mark immediately...I asked what was wrong, he told me that the heron was down on its legs and could not fly. I drove to Vasona.....

Upon meeting Ranger Mark and getting into his jeep (darn thing was so high)....he drove me out to the heron.  My heart was pounding so fast....when I saw the heron I thought I was going be get sick on the spot.  I at first looking at the heron thought it was the female from Nest 1....I took pictures and we decided since it was Super Bowl Sunday and I had no means to get it to a wildlife center that it was best to leave the heron where it was and do a rescue at 8AM in the morning.  Ranger Mark also told me that the couple that found it might do a rescue.  I explained that it would be better to wait and do a safe and peaceful rescue for the bird tomorrow. When I got home I downloaded the pictures and realized that it was the MALE from Nest 1....he is the one with the dot behind his eye (I named him Mr. Dot). I was sick for the rest of the night.

2/5/07 7:30 I arrived to closed gates so I parked on the University side and walked down to where the heron was.  Shocked to find no heron, I searched all of Vasona...nothing.  I checked the colony and found that a new male was already in Nest 1 and mating with the female....so much for Mr. Dot....poor thing

I got home around 10AM and started calling every wildlife center I could find...no one new anything about the a heron in distress.  The only thing I could think of was that the couple that reported the heron had the heron.  At noon time I rec'd a call from The Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley saying a man was bringing in a heron.  I asked that he call me.  At 3:30ish I spoke with Mr. Thatcher and he told me that his girlfriend has gone down to Vasona at 11PM to get the heron.  I explained how dangerous that was and that I was glad to her that she was okay. 

2/5/07   3PM Talked with Ashley (at the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley) and the report was that the initial checkup showed no broken bones and he was placed in the aviary for observation.

2/6/07  10:30 AM Talked with Carmel (WCSV) and she told me he was still not standing or eating. Could be a soft tissue injury that would take time to heal itself. She also said his dropping were normal and that we was playing with his food.....

2/6/07   4:40 PM Called again spoke with Janet, and he was standing but was told he could have a fracture at the base of the foot.

2/7/07  11AM spoke with Janet, the heron was now standing on one foot, the other may have a fracture, he was not eating.  They might have to tube feed him.

2/8/07  11Am spoke with Frances, still not eating, he is standing on his own and walking a bit. They will tube feed him today and they were not giving up on him.  He was even perching.

2/9/07  10:30 I spoke with Ashley first and then Carmel and I talked about Mr. Dot.  He was still not eating and they were tubing him which is highly stressful and since he was walking we should do a release back to Vasona.  I got the details ironed out with Carmel and then put the upcoming actions into plans. I called Vasona and was granted permission to release Mr. Dot.

I am not posting  the release day till after it happens. Just have to play it safe for Mr. Dot and everyone of concern.  So keep your fingers crossed that he flies off to feed  and then back up to the colony.

You can see that Mr. Dot has no way of standing on his foot.  I believe it's his left foot that has the injury.

February 12, 2007  59 degrees, cloudy with rain on the way

Today I went to Vasona to check on Mr. Dot.  I picked him up at the Wildlife Rescue of Silicon Valley on Sunday around 10:30 in the morning.  I got to Vasona around 11AM and released him from the back of my car.  I took him gently (he was squawking like mad) out of the crate and place him on the grass in front of the Ranger's Station where he decided to squawk like crazy and walk around the back of the Ranger's Station and go up the hill where he sat until I saw him last at 5:15 in the evening. 

I am glad to report that today, after searching everywhere for him, I spotted him from the corner of my eye sitting on a tree branch in the island by the bridge.  I went over and called to him, he looked at me like, "Oh, no she's back!  He preened and then flew off to the large island in the lake.  What a relief.  Thanks again to the couple who found him and brought him to the rescue center, that was the best thing for him.  Many thanks to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley who rehabbed him and took such great care of him (and putting up with my calls twice a day to check on him).  Thanks again....Carmel, Janet, Frances and Ashley....

February 16, 2007   5:15PM  70 degrees

What a difference a few days make in temperature, this warm weather is heaven sent.

Nest 2 was fixing nest up.  One heron was feeding on lawn, still can't place where this heron goes in the colony.

February 18, 2007  64 degrees Sunny

Got a call from Freddie Howell that Ranger John George found a great blue heron carcass.  Both Freddie and John thought it was Mr. Dot.... I went over to Vasona and check with Ranger John George and it was not Mr. Dot but it was a young small heron.  I have pictures that I will have to reduce and will post it.

While at Vasona.... Nest 1 was fixing nest, adding twigs, rearranging twigs, it was the female, I saw the three dots on her vent area.....

Nest 2 was incubating, Nest 4 a single male on the nest, Nest 7 one heron standing, Nest 9 one heron standing, Nest 11 (which was what I thought Nest 10 is really Nest 11) one standing, Nest 12 one trying to enter nest.

February 20, 2007  55 Degrees Rain expected

All was quiet.

February 22, 2007 55 Degrees Raining

Nest 1 incubating, Nest 2 had a pair, Nest 4 no heron, Nest 7 one standing, Nest 9 one standing, Nest 11 no herons, Nest 12 one heron standing.

February 24, 2007  54 degrees Overcast (cold for me!)

Nest 1 incubating, Nest 2 incubating, Nest 4 being taken apart by other herons, Nest 7 has a pair with one incubating, Nest 9 incubating, Nest 11 has a pair standing, Nest 12 has one heron

February 27, 2007 50 degrees Windy

No changes, nests still incubating very deep in nests, have to watch really close to see nuptial plumes blowing in wind!

March 1, 2007 50 degrees Cloudy Cold and dreary....boo hoo

Nest 1 incubating, Nest 2 incubating (turning eggs), Nest 4 no herons, Nest 7 incubating, mating and turning eggs, Nest 9 had female incubating also relieved by male and he then sat down to incubate, Nest 11 incubating now, Nest 12 has pair bringing twigs, female sitting deep in nest....

March 2, 2007 67 degrees Sunny and thank God warm!

Nest 1 incubating, had male fly in with twigs, had male relieve female

Nest 2 incubating, turning eggs, the male was on the nest

Nest 7 incubating

Nest 9 incubating, turning eggs and had a switch from male to female.

Nest 11 incubating

Nest 12 incubating.

So all and all six of the nests are incubating. Nest 4 is like Home Depot, they keep taking twigs from it to refurbish their own nests....so I guess this will be the last year for Nest 4 (now that I have said that watch a heron come in and nest)  We should have chicks somewhere around March 15-20...so that will be exciting. Today the crows were a big distraction at the colony, landing in the colony by Nest 7.

Okay that's brings this up to date....

March 22, 2006  FIRST CHICK HAS ARRIVED  **********************************

Wow, where do the days go.  I had been sick for a week and missed going to the colony. My last visit to the colony was this Tuesday, March 20 and no chicks were heard, and checking under the colony no eggs were found. Tonight I went to Vasona around 5:15PM and checked for egg droppings and found one.  Later (this is why I take notes) at around 6:25 when the female in Nest 1 stood up....I heard the chicks...I say chicks because it is hard to believe that much noise was coming from just one chick.  It will take about 10 days for me to see the little one's head.  I am so excited.  I only had one egg shell but that doesn't mean more than one was born.  The other egg shell could have been crushed ... so this is something for me to watch for.

Here's what happened tonight:

Nest 1...no movement till 6:25 then the female got up (saw here three dots) and I heard the chicks, she preened herself and then proceeded to sit back down. 

Nest 2....Didn't have any signs of movement till 6:40PM where the male was in the nest and proceed to rise and preen, turn eggs and then just look over the edge of the nest for a while before sitting back down.

Nest 4....sorry to say, it has been  reduced to a sparse amount of twigs. I felt sad seeing that knowing that it has been a very productive nest.

Nest 7.....a heron was up (can't see this nest clear enough for male ...female recognition) and moving about preening.  Sitting back down in the nest.

Nest 9.... This male was just beautiful tonight...moving around gently in the nest, preening and then back down on the nest.  This male was up and quite often....

Nest 11....Another male on the nest....and this one too was up and down ....

Nest 12.... you could see his head up over the nest.  Got up a few times and then sat back down.

I believe all nest are close to having their eggs hatch...should be within a week of each other... I would think that we should a have chicks in Nest 9, then 2 next.... So exciting...

March 28, 2007  65 degrees cool and windy

Okay, I will cut to the chase here..  I have been so busy with monitoring the herons. I have been able to collect egg shells and I am hearing chicks in four nests.  The chicks are between 6 days and just born today...with more to come......YES.....

The best news is that Mr. Dot is nesting... I have located Nest 10 and he is mating and bringing twigs to a small female I have been watching.  This made my day.  Mr. Dot is alive, well and reproducing!

Nest 1...has chicks....Dad was up preening and feeding chicks, then brooding. 

Nest 2 ...has chicks...Mom was on the nest with feeding and then brooding.

Nest 7 ....incubating

Nest 9...has chicks...the male was on the nest and I can see through a small hole in the nest movement on the bottom...be still my heart....

Nest 10....Mr. Dot is on this nest with a pretty little female....lots of twig bringing and mating going on...I would think egg laying is in the works....this will be the last nest to have chicks. (I think .. read on)

Nest 11...incubating

Nest 12 has chicks, fed them and sat back down to brood.

Tonight a new heron came in....I watched it for almost 2 hours....it was doing unbelievable breeding displays but I don't know who he was displaying to?  This drove me nuts. He did such loud Bill Snaps that I could hear it under the colony.  He was also interested in Nest 4....is he kidding me....is a dot compared to the other nests...it will need major refurbishing.  So if this heron decides to take this nest...this could be the last nest to have chicks ...of course we need a female and a lot of twigs...there is still plenty of time....

Okay, I am so jazzed.....Mr. Dot is fine and doing well....we have chicks and 7 nest occupied and one new herons and the rest we will have to wait and see.....

March 29. 2007  Sunny no wind 70 degrees

Tried to do a quick stay today and wound up at the colony for 1 1/2 hours....I watched the new male sit in Nest 4...a pile of twigs and this heron thinks he will attract a female to this nest....this is going to be something to watch... So as of today....you can hear the chicks loudly.....four nests I believe have chicks....2 still incubating, 1 laying eggs and one nest with a single male....WOW...that's awesome....

April 2, 2007 65 degrees sunny

You know, I have read many times about finding dead chicks under the colony and each time I go to Vasona I kinda hold my breath when I check under the colony, then a big relief after finding zip, then usually you can find me then scoping the birds.  Yesterday, my heart broke and I somehow knew that one of these days this would happen. I found a dead chick approx 4 days old on the ground.  I was so devastated.  I know that's silly, but this poor little creature.... It was so perfect. It's foot measure a mere 1 1/4 inches long and it had a perfect pectinating toe. All of it's toe nails were perfectly formed. The soles of its feet were a light yellow and you could definitely see the difference in leg color to the foot color.  Its feathers were still white and fuzzy on it's head and vent area....it started to get white pin feathers under its chin....I did take the bird home to bury, I couldn't just throw it in the garbage.  I did take picture which I will share with you. 

After having a day to think about this little heron, I am thinking it died in the nest and the parent threw it out due to the smell attracting attention (as in crows, gulls etc). The bird had a horrible and I do mean horrible odor....I still don't think it was dead long (a few hours as it's body was still pliable). I have had birds hit my windows at home and after a few hours they are stiff...but they don't smell....so here I have a little heron....horrendous odor and pliable....hmmmmm  I did notice that it's vent had a bulbous look to it...don't know if that happen when it fell but otherwise the bird looked healthily.  It still had some of its shell attached to his chest area....

Notice the middle toe....this is the toe it uses as a comb...it is call the pectinate toe.

April 3, 2007  75 degree Sunny and warm

Today I check the bottom of the colony all was well...Thank You God!  Best news was that I saw two chicks in Nest 2....oldest about 10 days old....very exciting.

April 26, 2007

Went and checked the colony again yesterday (been going daily now that we have chicks)  and will bring you up to date as I am getting ready for The Salute to Great Blue Heron's Day on Saturday.  Have some pictures of the chicks and will post to the site after the event... Remember to come out to Vasona to see the chicks and learn about the herons.

Nest 1: I have only seen one chick in this nest. I watched the mom feed the chick yesterday. I believe this nest is the one that had the sick chick that was dropped out of the nest. (see pictures above)  Also, this nest started out with Mr. Dot in it and was mating with the female, then a new male came in, Mr. Dot had to go into rehab (got a soft tissue injury) and is now nesting in Nest 11.  Did the female lay any eggs from Mr. Dot?  Did the disruption cause  only two eggs? One being the dead chick and the other being the chick in the nest now?   Gosh I wish I could see up in the bottom of the nest?  Are there any eggs that were crushed when they changed males? The Bird Observatory got a new biologist....Stephanie Ellis...what a sweetheart.....she came out to see the colony yesterday and was very helpful with info on the dead chick.  Stephanie will be out on Saturday so if you have any questions that would be the day!

Nest 2: Has three 5-6 week old chicks that are getting ready to branch walk....they look huge and it's hard to believe how big they have grown.

Nest 4: Taken apart this year.

Nest 7: So far I have counted two chicks, I would love to be able to see better in this nest.  I will keep trying.

Nest 9:  Yippee...FOUR!  Way to go....they are all active and noisy .....

Nest 10: So far all I see is one will try for to watch more closely in the next few days.

Nest 11: Has Mr. Dot....who was seen (really hard to see this nest) preening himself yesterday....so I am guessing that maybe the chicks are about to hatch....

Nest 12: I only see two chicks in this nest. I am wondering if the Red-shouldered Hawk I saw at the rim of the nest has taken a chick...

All and all its been an odd year for the colony.  The weather got down to 20 degrees for five days, then we went right back on schedule with the nesting. The Crows still continue at the colony and are a disturbance to the herons.  The Red-shouldered Hawks which nest in the park and for the past six years have not been a thought now become one. Finding the male at the edge of the nest of Nest 12 and the GBHE spreading its wings to shield its young.   It's the first time to find a chick on the ground (almost sure it was due to the chick being sick and not wanting the smell to attract bugs and predators). Stephanie Ellis will I hope be able to shed more light on this for me and I will let you know her thoughts.

May 10, 2007  Update

Okay, I did not fall off the face of the earth....just have been so busy with my parents, friends and getting ready for two trips...one big one to Alaska....Yep, Alaska....can't wait to get nesting birds to add to my life nest list.

But, I first let me thank everyone for coming to Vasona's Salute to Great Blue Heron Day....it was was so great seeing everyone and sharing these wonderful herons with you all.... I want to thank all of the volunteers, the giving of their time (and their scopes) was just fantastic...Thanks a million.

Now, I have been to the colony and will bring you up to date:

Nest 1: 1 chick: branch walking and spending time off the nest down in the back side of the colony.

Nest 2: 4 chicks: these guys are just great....large and some were off the nest branch walking.

Nest 7: 2 chicks: still can't get a good read on this nest...but can see two chicks, could there be more?

Nest 9: 4 chicks: All doing well and should be branching out this week...

Nest 10: 1 chick:  Seems lonely to me...but then again, maybe it's because there is only one.

Nest 11: no count yet: Mr. Dot was sitting on the rim of the nest and I can hear young chicks calling. Hopefully this coming week before I leave for Pt. Pelee I can get a count.

Nest 12: 2 chicks: These two chicks must be twins: they are always side by side...one in front of the other and always together....I

Okay, will update next week....before I go on one of my birding trips....Have a great weekend ahead....

May 14, 2007  75 degrees

HEARTBROKEN, HEARTBROKEN, HEARTBROKEN....That's what I am today when I visited the colony.  Nest 9 has fallen.  The branch holding the nest up has broken and only three chicks are holding on to the the large trunk of the tree for their lives, they have about ten twigs left on the branch. I can't find the fourth chick. There is nothing I can do. I can't rescue them...If I got a cherry picker up there it would frighten all the chicks and I would have all the chicks falling from the tree including the three left on a fat branch. I can't believe this has happened.  One of the chicks is flapping it's wings almost pushing the other two off the branch. One of the other chicks is in bad shape. Its feathers are messed up...and it looks ill... The last littlest chick is holding onto the fat branch for its dear life and looks as if to say, what the hell happen!   The only way I can help them is if they actually fall from the tree.  I have to hope that they would not break any bones or a wing...or that the fall won't kill them... I am hoping against all odds that they will be able to fly down.  I am HEARTBROKEN.....

Elaine...will you email me please .. I have what the picture for you... I am going out of town on Thursday so let's try and touch base when I get back...okay.... Keep an eye on the herons for me please.....

May 29, 2007  72 Degrees Warm and Sunny

I have been checking on the herons every other day.  Here is today's short and long of it.

Nest 1 - Still has one chick hanging out in the nest.

Nest 2 - Only 2 chicks remain. Two have fledged. The two that remain: Neither is in the nest. One flew from the ground to the left side of the nest where it's sibling was sitting.

Nest 7 - Did not see any chicks today in the nest

Nest 9 - Still depressed by this nest falling. I only saw two chicks in the trees.  Spike Marlow kept an eye on them for me while I was birding in Pt. Pelee. He said the parents came in and fed all four.  Today there were only two chicks.

Nest 10 - One chicks remains in the nest

Nest 11- YEAH! Mr. Dot has had two chicks (that I could see)...they are about 5-6 weeks old now and were preening in the nest when I saw them. Way to go Mr. Dot!

Nest 12 - The twins (so I call them) are still together....It will be fun watching them leave...will one leave before the other? Will they both fly off together?  Stay tuned

Okay, will check on them in a day or so.... They are really big now....and soon (I say sadly) the colony will be done for the breeding season 2007......

DECEMBER 29, 2007  COLD AND WINDY

IT'S BEEN A LOOOOONG TIME SINCE I POSTED (7 MONTHS TO THE DAY) . SO I THOUGHT I WOULD CLEAN UP THE YEAR 2007.  TRAVEL KEPT ME REALLY BUSY IN 2007.....COSTA RICA, ALASKA, PUERTO RICO, AND TONS OF SMALLER BIRD TRIPS TO REACH A 500 SPECIES YEAR LIST.  THIS COMING 2008 WILL BE WAY LESS TRAVELING AND MORE CONCENTRATION ON THE HERONS.

I WENT TO VASONA TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE HERONS ARE BACK AND THEY ARE!  6 OF THEM.  ONE MALE WITH THE BEIGE PATCH ON THE SIDE OF THE EYE IS BACK. HE WAS THE MALE FROM NEST 2..... I AM TAKING PICTURES TO CHECK OUT THEIR FACES TO SEE WHO'S BACK.

I ALSO CHECK THE NESTING SITE: VERY BAD SHAPE...NEST 2 LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN PULLED APART FROM THE FRONT....IT'S GONNA BE AN INTERESTING YEAR FOR THE HERONS....

I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR ON NESTING FOR THE GREAT BLUES

HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU......

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