Gen Anderson
06-05-2010, 12:07 PM
Hello everyone~
I have been receiving many requests for an update of the spoonbill nests, but have delayed posting until the nests have begun to hatch. The two hidden spoonbills nests hatched out 2-2 1/2 weeks ago and the chicks are definitely large enough to see if you can achieve the proper viewing angle. Even better news, though, is the two easily-viewed nests have begun hatching out today! Their fuzzy heads and tiny spoons are barely visable, but they will be growing rapidly until fledging at six weeks of age.
Here are the stats for the other species:
Wood storks: 41 nests (down from a peak of 49), 125 large chicks/fledglings
Great egrets: 60 nests (peaked at 92), 162 large chicks/ fledglings
Snowy egrets: 36 nests (peaked at 98), 184 chicks/fledglings everywhere
Cattle egrets: almost 50 nests, 82 chicks (nests began hatching out mid-May)
Little Blue Heron: 16 nests, 15 chicks (not a great year for this timid species)
Tri-colored Heron: 42 nests (peaked at 60), 132 chicks/fledglings
Green Herons: 6 nests, 13 chicks/fledglings. A new nest was just built in the Live Oak by the Education Building.
If you are thinking about making one more trip out, then I highly recommend doing so! Spoonbill chick pictures would be great to enter into the photo contest...
Gen Anderson
Bird & Mammal Curator <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
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I have been receiving many requests for an update of the spoonbill nests, but have delayed posting until the nests have begun to hatch. The two hidden spoonbills nests hatched out 2-2 1/2 weeks ago and the chicks are definitely large enough to see if you can achieve the proper viewing angle. Even better news, though, is the two easily-viewed nests have begun hatching out today! Their fuzzy heads and tiny spoons are barely visable, but they will be growing rapidly until fledging at six weeks of age.
Here are the stats for the other species:
Wood storks: 41 nests (down from a peak of 49), 125 large chicks/fledglings
Great egrets: 60 nests (peaked at 92), 162 large chicks/ fledglings
Snowy egrets: 36 nests (peaked at 98), 184 chicks/fledglings everywhere
Cattle egrets: almost 50 nests, 82 chicks (nests began hatching out mid-May)
Little Blue Heron: 16 nests, 15 chicks (not a great year for this timid species)
Tri-colored Heron: 42 nests (peaked at 60), 132 chicks/fledglings
Green Herons: 6 nests, 13 chicks/fledglings. A new nest was just built in the Live Oak by the Education Building.
If you are thinking about making one more trip out, then I highly recommend doing so! Spoonbill chick pictures would be great to enter into the photo contest...
Gen Anderson
Bird & Mammal Curator <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
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