[NetBehaviour] late rookery in rhode island

[Alan Sondheim]

late rookery in rhode island

http://www.alansondheim.org/laterookery2.jpg
http://www.alansondheim.org/laterookery1.jpg

the young blue herons are fledging, the rookery's almost
completely overgrown. these images were taken over a great
distance, at the limit of the camera's magnification. the
heron clattering was still ongoing, but the rest of the
rookery was hidden by foliage. we saw four herons flying
overhead, that was about all. we've been following the
birds for several months now. earlier on the sound was
deafening, clattering and roars; now it's irregular.

the nearest we've ever gotten to a great blue was in the
middle of the night, in the everglades. suddenly we were
next to it. we had to be careful; they can be dangerous.
we feel privileged we can see such beauty even now in a
world where their years might be numbered, but at least
the rookery is somewhat anonymous and protected.

and good news, all the birds we've seen seem to have
made it (of course we wouldn't have seen otherwise) -