Heron went a-courting

Yellow-crowned Night Heron bonded pair

For several years, a leafy street in our urban neighborhood has hosted nesting pairs of Yellow-crowned Night Herons. It’s an unlikely location, given herons’ preference to nest near streams and wetlands. Perhaps the block-long archway of tall sycamore trees mimics a stream bed.

This year, the herons have returned. For weeks, a few males perched near the remnants of old nests and displayed for territory. When a female showed up, the males’ territorial and courtship displays ramped up. See photos below.

I’m here!

Start of courtship display

A few seconds later

Yellow-crowned Night Heron full courtship display

Well, that got her attention.

For the next few days, the pair worked on rebuilding the nest, an important part of pair-bonding. The male brought sticks from nearby sycamores and spruces. They both worked on improving the nest.

Looking for the perfect stick

Found one!

Nest building

The signs were good that the pair would mate and they did.

Mating pair

If all goes well, eggs and nestlings will follow. It will be fun to watch.

Next spring, this year’s fledglings will look like this “First Summer” immature Yellow-crowned Night Heron that visited one morning.