I’ve spent the past two and half months going up to the Venice Rookery fairly regularly to check on the great blue heron chicks, anhinga chicks and now great egret chicks. It’s been amazing to be in Florida during nesting season. I have learned so much watching the birds build nests together, put on courting displays, feed their young and fly in and out of the Rookery. I’ve also met some other amazing photographers who have shared their previous nesting season experiences with me. I now have a much better appreciation of the activity taking place as I photograph the birds in action. Here is a series of photographs from my time at the Rookery.
We start with a recent sunset as we watched all the birds fly in a night and take their places on the island.
Sunset at the Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) couple at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) gathering material for nest at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Two-month old Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) in flight at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) in flight with nesting material, Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) in flight at sunrise, Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) displaying breeding plumage at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Male Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) in breeding colors being blown over by the strong winds at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
An elegant courtship. Great egret (Ardea alba) couple cuddling at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) in flight at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
A delicate balance. A Great egret (Ardea alba) in breeding plumage balancing on a branch at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) in the reeds at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) in an invasive species Brazilian pepper tree at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) on nest at Venice Rookery, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) in flight with stick for nest at sunrise at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) in flight at sunrise at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) ‘walking on water’ at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) in flight at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Green heron (Butorides virescens) at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) couple building their nest at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Snowy egret (Egretta thula) with breeding plumage at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) couple after finishing mating at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Juvenile Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) couple on their nest, Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) couple building their nest at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) couple adding a stick to their nest, Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor) at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) in flight with breeding plumage at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Dinner for two Great Blue Heron chicks, Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) in breeding plumage at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Six week old Great Blue Heron chicks, Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great egret (Ardea alba) in breeding plumage at Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Seven-week-old Great Blue Heron chicks, Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Snake, it’s what’s for dinner for two Great Blue Heron chicks, Venice Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) with four week old chicks at Venice Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) with two week old chicks at Venice Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida
