Behavior of a Great Blue Heron

[Don Saunders]

This was photographed at the Venice Rookery, FL. I saw this Heron do this behavior several times. First, it extends the neck, neck feathers are extended outward, then it would bang its beak together hard enough to produce a loud sound. It would do this banging- single bangs with time between each bang. I never saw another Heron with this one. It appeared to be standing on a branch, but not on a nest. There may be a nest behind it, but I did not see it sstand on the nest. Most of my shots the head was extended downward and partially covered with branches. This one shot shows the behavior well. What is this behavior?
Canon 1DMkII, Canon 500mm

[David Roach]

Hey Don,
I have seen this behavior many times in nesting GBHs. Almost always it is to keep others from around there chosen nesting site. I see it alot at Wako as the other birds (also nesting) get too close. That beak banging can be heard for quite a distance.

[John Chardine]

It looks like the beginnings of a nest behind the legs of the bird. I would guess it is advertising the nest and trying to obtain a mate.

The image is beautifully sharp but somewhat flat or low-contrast on my screen. I think the image may benefit from slight upping of the mid-tone contrast and a slight desaturation. I tried it and it seemed to work well.

[Steve Canuel]

Nice pose and interesting BG. The lines of the neck go well with the edge of the foreground bushes. I agree it could use a slight contrast boost.

Steve

[Arthur Morris]

Behavior is at least in part a mate attraction display. Agree on need for contrast boost. A lovely bird with the ultrmarine lores and a nicely designed image. Though an unwanted aliean species, the Brazilian Pepper berries are a plus. The bird's head and neck is angled ever-so-slightly away from you and the single large dark branch is distracting.

later and love, artie

[Don Saunders]

Slightly decreased saturation and slightly increased contrast.