The High Island Rookery, April 5, 2015

Two rosette spoonbills were displaying and then the pushing started as both were trying to claim the prime nesting platform. Here the birds try to nest in trees as there is an ever present menace of circling alligators, writing for a meal of adults or chicks.

A great egret swoops in for a landing. Its air brake feathers flared to help it land elegantly atop its nest.

It’s carrying a small green tree branch to its mate. She’s sitting on a clutch of eggs but still manages to add another bit of comfort to their already large platform.

Below, on a smaller tree top two snowy egret males struggle for a single spot. Both are yet unpaired but one finally leaves the victor behind. He stretches his neck and puts on a full display but unrewarded, no female swoops in to pledge herself to the mating cycle.

Nearby three rosettes fight over a single large branch and the lower two seem to have the advantage but the one above refuses to give up. Others wander the ground ever searching for a loose branch to add to the nesting platform.

The noise is a constant din as the rosettes are clapping their bills, singing their matting calls, all adding to the calliopy of sound. Another rosette swoops in and again its air brake feathers are out allowing it to land gracefully. We have never notice these before as we had only imaged the smooth gliding form, but it makes sense now. As Renita keeps taking image after image we both realize that we have been granted a special gift.

The birds are the descendants of the dinosaurs and so the rookery and its predessors has been little changed for millions of years. No quiet nesting sites but how much noise the herds of dinosaurs must have made during their mating seasons.

We both wish everyone could see this special place, at it’s special breeding season time. There are other rookeries, and we hope to find more as we head into Louisiana. That’s what retirement is all about, fining special places and the High island Rookery is one! Thank you to the local Audubon Society and its volunteers! Clear skies