I only got to spend an hour at the preserve today as I was busy assisting
with the preschooler programs at Gallant Woods Preservation Park during the
morning and most of the afternoon. When I got home I took Linda to see some of
the hatchlings and fledglings discovered Monday. I intended to start with the
green herons but was detoured by some prothonotary warbler fledglings that
insisted on being first, second, third, fourth and fifth. When they were done
being cute we continued to the site of the heron nest. The nest is a pile,
stack, mess (take your choice) of sticks that almost appear to have been
randomly dropped onto the branch fork of the tree. If the green heron hatchlings
become neurotic, the nest is a prime suspect for the cause. Linda had to laugh
because at first I couldn't relocate the nest. I was looking in the tree next
to  the one with the nest, which if not viewed from the correct angle, is
invisible.  Once I had my bearings corrected we watched the nest and I was able to
count  five skinny, fuzzy hatchlings clinging to the nest and branch and
trying not to  be seen. Linda said to remember that their parents thought they were
cute.  From here we trekked to the area where the hawk's nest is located. On
the way we  observed more prothonotary warblers and an American crow feeding
its fledglings.  The young crows are as big as the adults but more of a
sooty-gray than the black  of the adults. In the vicinity of the hawk's nest I again
had to hunt before I  located the nest. Once located, with a direct line the
nest was easily viewed.  Today several heads popped up to gaze at us. The
hatchlings are like large lint  bunnies with a sharp beak. They are still far from
ready to fledge and I should  get an opportunity to watch their development
for some time yet.

Charlie Bombaci
Hoover Nature Preserve




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