Babies abound!

An update on the baby Green Herons at Gulf Islands National Seashore: All seem well and still await the continual feeding by Mom and Pop Heron. Near dusk yesterday, we checked the "heron tree" - our name for the nesting site by Miss Gator's pond. Parental herons were busy flying to and fro to feed essentially grown babies. The youngsters look like they are fully or nearly fully fledged, yet they hop and flap wings to attract a bite from their parents. Not unlike their human counterparts, it appears it's easier to let Mom and Pop bring it to you than to go get it yourself!

Another interesting find was an unidentified bird near the boat dock. He or she picked up the little crabs walking the boardwalk like pieces of popcorn. While it was clear this bird was a youngster, we weren't sure which youngster until we returned home to find a drawing in Sibley's guide. We have often seen adult Yellow-Crowned Night Herons, but never a fledgling. From all appearances he seems to be handling being on his own quite nicely.