Subject: Medina Herons
Date: Feb 17 09:37:44 2004
From: Kathy Andrich - chukarbird at yahoo.com



Hi Tweeters,

It's that time again. The Great Blue Herons in Medina
are very busy. There are approximately a dozen herons
hanging out near the nest tree. The very flimsy nest
blew down over the winter, leaving 3 nests for the
time being. Amazing they fledged 4 last year in that
very flimsy nest. The herons right now are actively
displaying, doing bill snaps, and the display where
they stretch their necks up, sway, and make a very odd
gutteral noise. I have also noticed a lot of bill
wiping this year. I am not sure if this is a display,
or what it means. The Medina Park heronry is a
absolutely wonderful opportunity for those of us who
are fascinated by bird behavior.

This little heron colony is in a very busy park which
is also an off leash dog park. You can literally walk
up and touch the tree the herons are nesting in, a
very unusual situation for herons to nest. This
morning I also saw the longest heron chase I have
seen. Two of them were really racing around, as fast
as herons can race which in reality isn't very fast.
Much easier to observe than little sparrows and
warblers chasing each other around. Today was the
first time I have watched additions to a nest this
year. The big nest on the bottom was being added on
to. I am not sure the pairs have been determined yet
for the other two nests.

I saw my first cherry tree blossums this morning
(yay!), in the Medina area. Also a Golden Crowned
Sparrow was loosely associating with a Song Sparrow at
the park. I have not seen them there before, but I
imagine they are in the area, there are places with
low shrubbery and blackberries around.

To get to Medina Park take NE 8th exit off I405, go
west, straight past Bellevue Square, NE 8th winds
around for a bit and ends up being NE 12th. At a five
way intersection (with 124th I think) go straight.
St. Thomas Episcopal, a large church, will be on the
right and the park is on the left. Use the parking
lot off NE 12 and the heron tree is leaning over the
pond in front of you.

Happy heroning!

Kathy

Kathy Andrich
Roosting in Kent
chukarbird at yahoo.com


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