gatorland rookery – Page 3

February 12th Hatching Eggs

Sunday, 12 February 2012 I didn’t have much time to spend in the marsh this week but I found time this afternoon to watch and talk to some of our photographers. The Great Egrets, as their name suggests, are doing great. The first two nests that had eggs this season now have our first chicks! The Wood Storks are still doing well. Spoonbills make their usual appearances. The Snowy Egrets are slowly increasing in number. Other species were around but it was close to sunset so hundreds of birds were flying in to roost. I’ve noticed that some of the Cormorants on the South Island are fledging. If you haven’t purchased a Photo Pass, now would be a great time to do so with all the eggs starting to hatch! Adam Hall Join me here in the rookery with your exclusive Gatorland Birding Photo Pass [...]

February 12th Hatching EggsLauren Van Henry2020-04-07T16:24:52-04:00

February 5th Nesting Great Egrets

Sunday, 5 February 2012 It’s been just over a week since my last survey and we’ve doubled the number of Great Egrets lying on nests. There’s 28 lying on nests and when some of them stood up I noticed that many have three eggs. Some of the adults that have eggs are losing their bright green cere. They are now more of an olive with yellow eyes. Still others are displaying and building nests. There’s still two Wood Storks lying on nests but we now have 15 of them including at least six pairs, all on the east edge. I saw six Snowy Egrets hanging out mostly near the tower. I didn’t see any Spoonbills in the morning but one came in the afternoon and we’ve been seeing two or three at times. There doesn’t seem to be any change in our other species. Many [...]

February 5th Nesting Great EgretsLauren Van Henry2020-04-07T15:19:19-04:00

January 27th Pair of Barred Owls

Friday, 27 January 2012 This week I saw 14 Great Egrets lying on nests and much more activity all over the north half of the marsh. There was much more displaying and birds chasing each other off of perches. For the half hour I was in the marsh, I didn’t see any other species of heron or egret but there were still 3 Wood Storks, two of which were lying down in their tree. There’s still only one Spoonbill. No change in the Cormorants and Anhingas in the marsh. On the south end of the marsh we had plenty of passerines including Robins, Catbirds, Grackles, Yellow-rumped Warblers, a male Cardinal and about 100 Cedar Waxwings! A special note this week: last night I was here until 8pm and saw a pair of Barred Owls near the Gator Wrestling Arena. They were calling to each other [...]

January 27th Pair of Barred OwlsLauren Van Henry2020-04-07T15:18:20-04:00

January 20th Great Egrets.

Friday, 20 January 2012 Progress is evident out here. I saw eight Great Egrets lying on their nests this morning and more nest building, displaying, etc. I didn’t see any eggs because the birds didn’t stand but I imagine we have more eggs. The Wood Storks are still hanging out on the east edge. Cattle Egrets were flying over but I didn’t see any land. All the Snowy Egrets and Tri-colored Herons I saw were on the west edge of the North Lake. The Cormorant Colony on the South Island is still doing well. I saw six chicks and one looked close to fledging. There are about 10 adults lying on nests. Other birds for the day included Red-shouldered Hawk, 2 Limpkin’s, 1 Roseate Spoonbill, Anhinga’s, White Ibis, and some common passerines including 20 Cedar Waxwings that flew over. They’re one of my favorites! Happy [...]

January 20th Great Egrets.Lauren Van Henry2020-04-07T14:59:01-04:00

Greetings from Gatorland Bird Rookery

January 14th, 2012 Greetings from the Gatorland Rookery! Our birds have kicked-off the breeding season. The Great Egrets are in all stages of breeding behaviors. I observed courtship displays, allopreening, and mating. Many are standing on what looks to be potential nest sites; many are building nests and two are already sitting on an egg. Three Wood Storks are hanging out in their usual nesting trees on the eastern edge. Our other common wading species are around but don’t seem to be switching into gear yet. Double-crested Cormorants are nesting on the south island in the main lake. Three of their apparently healthy chicks were visible and I estimate them to be just a couple weeks old. One Roseate Spoonbill was sitting on the east edge of the breeding marsh just north of the Wood Storks. Other birds for the day included Osprey, Limpkin, Belted [...]

Greetings from Gatorland Bird RookeryGatorland2020-04-07T15:46:03-04:00