{"id":13954,"date":"2014-03-24T11:57:05","date_gmt":"2014-03-24T16:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/?p=13954"},"modified":"2014-03-24T11:57:05","modified_gmt":"2014-03-24T16:57:05","slug":"love-on-a-treetop-courting-great-blue-herons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/?p=13954","title":{"rendered":"Love on a Treetop:  Courting Great Blue Herons"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-001-960.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13956\" title=\"gbhr greeting 001 480\" src=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-001-480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"719\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-001-480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-001-480-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em><strong>Courting Great Blue Heron Pair at SouthCoast Rookery<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Great Blue Herons swoop through the air with blitheful grace, so unexpected for such a large and seemingly\u00c2\u00a0awkward creature.\u00c2\u00a0 Yet, if aerial ballets amaze, their Geisha-like\u00c2\u00a0courtship movements atop the trees precariously balanced on teetering twigs\u00c2\u00a0stuns the senses.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In this early stage of seasonal courtship as pairs return to the rookery and before preparing the\u00c2\u00a0nest for this year&#8217;s chicks, ritual behavior ensues each time the male returns to the aerie.\u00c2\u00a0 Loving tenderness is expressed\u00c2\u00a0in\u00c2\u00a0elegant poses so gentle, so sweet and so dramatically effective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">(All images can be enlarged by clicking on the picture, which will open in a separate window.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-002-960.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13958\" title=\"gbhr greeting 002 480\" src=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-002-480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-002-480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-002-480-236x300.jpg 236w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-003-960.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13960\" title=\"gbhr greeting 003 480\" src=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-003-480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-003-480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-003-480-239x300.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-004-960.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13962\" title=\"gbhr greeting 004 480\" src=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-004-480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"619\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-004-480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-004-480-232x300.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-005-960.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13964\" title=\"gbhr greeting 005 480\" src=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-005-480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-005-480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-greeting-005-480-252x300.jpg 252w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Courting Behavior as Male Great Blue Heron Returns to Nest<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When\u00c2\u00a0the greeting ritual ends, the\u00c2\u00a0mating pair begins a grooming phase with the same loving tenderness as demonstrated below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-003-960.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13966\" title=\"gbhr nest 003 480\" src=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-003-480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-003-480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-003-480-287x300.jpg 287w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-007-960.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13968\" title=\"gbhr nest 007 480\" src=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-007-480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-007-480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-007-480-286x300.jpg 286w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-011-960.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13970\" title=\"gbhr nest 011 480\" src=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-011-480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"492\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-011-480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-011-480-292x300.jpg 292w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em><strong>Great Blue Heron Pair Grooming<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With the courting ritual temporarily behind them, they can refocus on preparing the nest for eggs, incubation and chicks.\u00c2\u00a0 The next two months will be a busy time for this pair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-201-960.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13972\" title=\"gbhr nest 201 480\" src=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-201-480.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-201-480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-201-480-283x300.jpg 283w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em><strong>Great Blue Heron Pair Settle Down to Nesting<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yet, even in the busy-ness of nest preparation, there&#8217;s always time for a gentle peck to reinforce the couple&#8217;s bond.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-204-960-peck.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13974\" title=\"gbhr nest 204 480 peck\" src=\"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-204-480-peck.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-204-480-peck.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/gbhr-nest-204-480-peck-289x300.jpg 289w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em><strong>Love&#8217;s in the Air:\u00c2\u00a0 Great Blue Herons at SouthCoast Rookery<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Courting Great Blue Heron Pair at SouthCoast Rookery Great Blue Herons swoop through the air with blitheful grace, so unexpected for such a large and seemingly\u00c2\u00a0awkward creature.\u00c2\u00a0 Yet, if aerial ballets amaze, their Geisha-like\u00c2\u00a0courtship movements atop the trees precariously balanced on teetering twigs\u00c2\u00a0stuns the senses.\u00c2\u00a0 In this early stage of seasonal courtship as pairs return [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[654,402],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13954"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13954"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14003,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13954\/revisions\/14003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}