Herons at the nest

Great blue herons nest in loose colonies called heronries, often high in the same trees year after year, and by late April the leaves are just starting to fill in around them. This pair was tending a nest well hidden in the branches — patience and a long lens were the only way to get a clear line through the twigs.

Why it matters

Heronries can hold dozens of nests in a single stand of trees, and because herons return to the same colony site for generations, an active heronry is a sign of long-term habitat stability along a river corridor.

Getting the shot

Threading a clear shot through a tangle of budding branches meant waiting for the birds to shift position rather than trying to force a clean angle. The blue sky behind gave enough contrast to keep the herons’ gray plumage from blending into the branches.