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Great blue heron eggs at Sapsucker Woods, Ithaca
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Papa settles down, Sapsucker Woods, Ithaca
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Papa sits on the nest, and mama contemplates the pond.
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Papa has plucked a fresh branch off the tree on the island below.
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Bringing a fresh, leafy branch.
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Papa heron, Sapsucker Wood, Ithaca
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Papa rolls the eggs...
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...and tamps down small twigs.
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Later, he rolls the eggs again. Parents roll the eggs every few hours.
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Snow begins to fall, and by 1 a.m. papa is completely covered in snow.
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Dawn comes, and more snow has fallen.
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21 hours in the slowly melting snow.
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21 hours in the snow, rolling the eggs...
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...and at last, mama returns after an absence of 22.5 hours!
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The snow slowly melts, mama rolls the eggs. Dented egg at left.
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The snow melts, and mama rolls the eggs.
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The snow is gone, and papa rolls the eggs on a windy morning.
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Raining again. Mama does an egg check...
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She surveys the pond...
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Mama rolls the eggs. A small dent in the top egg makes everyone wonder if it will hatch.
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Mama rolls the eggs...
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Mama gently nudges the eggs with her foot.
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Mama takes over the nest, and papa gets ready to fly down to the pond.
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She checks the eggs, and gives them a roll.
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She seems to look closely at the eggs.
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In the afternoon, she sits in the sunshine...
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...a study in patience. Watching the sky. Raptors?
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The egg at the top is dented. Will the chick survive?
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Mama rolling eggs, always so gentle with her feet.
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Mama glancing up...
