The Great Blue Heron’s Search for a Mate

Watching the courtship rituals of Great Blue Herons is fascinating. Great Blue Herons are monogamous through a breeding season but may get new mates the following seasons. When looking for a mate, the male heron will stretch its neck out and down, then shoot it straight up into a Stretch Display

Once a female is interested, they’ll engage in bill clappering and locking and cozying up chest to chest. What sometimes looks like aggression is actually part of the mating ritual.

Bill Clappering

More Bill Clappering

Ok, I think this will work out.

Once they’ve agreed upon each other, the nest building begins. The male Great Blue Heron will search for sticks and bring them to the female, presenting them for approval.

The nest building begins.

Here you go sweetie.

Hey! Stop moving the furniture around!

A parent’s work is never done.

Both herons share the work of the nest building and maintenance as well as egg incubation and chick feeding duties. Once the chicks have fledged and can fend for themselves, the adults disperse and return to a solitary life until the next breeding season, and it all begins again.

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