Great Blue Heron chicks have started to hatch around the rookery and Tuesday I spotted one in a high nest sticking his head up.
The first few days the adults will tear food apart and give it to their chicks. As the chicks grow, which happens pretty quickly, the adult dangles food in front of the chicks encouraging them to grab their own meal.
Either this chick couldn’t figure out how to get a bite of frog or wasn’t hungry, but after a minute or so the chick lost his chance.
It took a minute or so of concentrated effort, but the adult ate the frog in one bite.
That is a BIG frog !! Is it a bull frog ??
It sure was—lunch and dinner! Sorry, I don’t know about the frog ID, Gwennie. I don’t notice a lot of frogs around the ponds here and only occasionally get startled by one jumping into the water.
I just love these little guys. I guess he’ll have to catch on soon. Very nice!
Thanks, Belinda! Me, too, and I’m looking forward to seeing chicks at a nest closer to the pond edge for a better view. Often the meals we see them passing around are unidentifiable, half eaten or regurgitated. This is the first time I’ve been able to ID a frog.
Amazing sequence!
Maybe Chicky-dear is a fussy eater and doesn’t like frog! 😉
LOL, maybe so Liz. He may go to bed hungry. Or, if another chick hatches there he’ll eat just to keep the other one from getting it!