Ready to Fly

One of six images from a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia of the last fledgling from a nest taking flight. Here she readies herself. (1 of 6)

Lift Off

Using her great wings to lift herself vertically off the nest, this young heron takes off above a canopy of pine trees. Of all the 30 or so nests on this one lake-bound island, hers stands the most exposed at the top of a dead tree. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony, North Georgia. (2 of 6)

Airborne

Fully airborne, the fledgling glides briefly after her first push. She appears suspended in mid-air. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony, North Georgia. (3 of 6)

In the Air

She begins a second stroke of her wings to drive herself forward across the top of the canopy. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony, North Georgia. (4 of 6)

In the Air 2

Steady and strong she continues her journey from the nest. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony, North Georgia. (5 of 6)

In the Air 3

And she's gone. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony, North Georgia. (6 of 6)

30 Feet High

A morning or two earlier, both fledgling herons sit in their nest atop a tree awaiting a meal. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony, North Georgia. (1 of 3)

Groomer

A morning or two earlier, both fledgling herons sit in their nest atop a tree awaiting a meal. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony, North Georgia. (2 of 3)

Nest Mates

A morning or two earlier, both fledgling herons sit in their nest atop a tree awaiting a meal. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony, North Georgia. (3 of 3)

Here Come Mom and Dad

The same two nest-bound fledglings receive a less than graceful visit from their parents. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (1 of 8)

Incoming!

The same two nest-bound fledglings receive a less than graceful visit from their parents. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (2 of 8)

Room for Four?

The same two nest-bound fledglings receive a less than graceful visit from their parents. A lack of landing space caused by the size of the fledglings makes landing impossible. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (3 of 8)

Room for Two

The same two nest-bound fledglings receive a less than graceful visit from their parents. A lack of landing space caused by the size of the fledglings cause the two parents to abort their landings on the nest. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (4 of 8)

Second Landing Attempt

The same two nest-bound fledglings receive a less than graceful visit from their parents. A lack of landing space caused one parent to fly by and the other to land on a tree top nearby. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (5 of 8)

Landed

The same two nest-bound fledglings watch their parent settle nearby. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (6 of 8)

Two Plus One

Like nothing just happened. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (7 of 8)

Chatter

Okay, enough of this. Where's the meal? Like nothing just happened. Images from a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (8 of 8)

Checking the Nest

Who knew herons nested in rookeries and that one would form on an island nearby on a lake in North Georgia. Nearly 30 active nests created many opportunities for photos and for gathering Great Blue Herons.

Nesting Pair

Great Blue Heron Colony, North Georgia

Morning Vigil

Taking in the vista from atop the island canopy. From a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia.

Evening's Approach

As evening darkens, these two fledgling's look to the sky for a parent's return. From a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia.

Conversation

Morning is a busy time in the rookery. From a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia

Nest Builder

Wings raised to soften her landing, a parent returns to her nest. From a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia.

Duplex

Is it one nest or two? Maybe one from last year next to the newer one. The rookery remained on the same island for a few years but disappeared, likely driven off by a flock of crows, during Covid. From a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia.Great Blue Heron Colony, North Georgia

Foursome

The where's-Waldo group from the heron rookery. Evening shot from a kayak. From a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia.

Lullaby

Two chicks high above early one morning. From a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia.

Racket Maker

A lone fledgling raises her wings and makes a racket while waiting for breakfast. From a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia.

Approach by Kayak

One early morning paddle to the island found this young heron fishing the waters below a nest that was 30 feet above. Paddling infrequently, mostly to set the kayak adrift toward the heron at an indirect and non-threatening angle, I was able to float near enough to photograph him from his eye level with a 100 millimeter lens. From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (1 of 11)

Getting Around

An early morning exploration by a young Great Blue Heron in the waters beneath its rookery. Captured up close with a 100 mm lens from a kayak. From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (2 of 11)

What's That?

Another take on an early morning exploration by a young Great Blue Heron in the waters beneath its rookery in North Georgia. From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (3 of 11)

Beady Eyes

A head on view of our young heron. From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (4 of 11)

Vigilant

From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (5 of 11)

Great Blue

From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (6 of 11)

Fishing Spot

From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (7 of 11)

Sneaking Up

From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (8 of 11)

What Do I See?

From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (9 of 11)

Time for a Drink

From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (10 of 11)

Heads Up

From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (9 of 11)

Looking

From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (10 of 11)

Fishing

From the water below a Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (11 of 11)

Cormorant

Not to be outdone, this lone cormorant alighted on a nearby log while I was photographing the young heron on the water. This is the first of eight images of the cormorant as he stretches and then launches himself across the water. From below a the Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (1 of 8)

Airing Out

Cormorant airing out his wings before taking off from a floating log. From below a the Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (2 of 8)

The Stretch

Cormorant airing out his wings before taking off from a floating log. From below a the Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (3 of 8)

Where Is Everybody?

Cormorant calling out. From below a the Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (4 of 8)

Contemplating a Take Off

Cormorant getting mentally ready for take off. From below a the Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (5 of 8)

Ready for Launch

Cormorant launching. From below a the Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (6 of 8)

Launch

And, she if gone. Cormorant launch. From below a the Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (7 of 8)

Take Off

Cormorant skimming the water as she takes off from a log. From below a the Great Blue Heron Colony in North Georgia. (8 of 8)