Valentine’s Day 💗

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I spotted this handsome Great Blue Heron on the morning of Valentine’s Day, last February 14 ♥️.

In late winter to early spring our Great Blue Herons begin to engage in “elaborate courtship and pair-bonding displays…” (All About Birds)

“Displays include stretching neck up with bill pointing skyward, flying in circles above colony with neck extended, stretching neck forward with head and neck feathers erected and then snapping bill shut.” (Audubon)

This lone Great Blue wasn’t yet performing all these ritual mating behaviors, but he was doing a great job flexing and then extending his graceful neck and pointing his sharp beak skyward.

It wasn’t long before he attracted a prospective mate and they started work on nest building as a monogamous pair for the season. 💕

14 thoughts on “Valentine’s Day 💗”

  6. This is a really nice series of images!

    Watching the big birds go through their courting ritual each year is one of our favorite pastimes. Not to mention the nest building prowess. Not to mention tending the eggs. Not to mention raising the chicks. Not to — oops! Sorry, got carried away.

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