Black Tern spectacle!
A few weeks ago I discovered this ditch with ca. 15 Black Tern nests. It is a rare species in the Netherlands and the nests are constructed by the foundation that is owning this piece of land. Many nests have a little fence for keeping the young safe from falling into the water, or being predated by nasty creatures.
I went back three times, because it is such a treat to see how they are fed. The picture more a less tells it all, the speeding parent with a giant dragonfly, the young squeeking and opening their beaks, the parent dropping the food on the fly, and then off for another meal. This goes on 16 hours a day!
It is amazing how fast they grow. These chicks four days later started practicing flying, and another 4 days later they were gone.
In the mean time in other nests you could see them almost grow every minute. For sure I will return next year to see this spectacle again!
I think I took about 1000 pictures, many off them worth while showing. Enjoy.
Black Tern spectacle!
A few weeks ago I discovered this ditch with ca. 15 Black Tern nests. It is a rare species in the Netherlands and the nests are constructed by the foundation that is owning this piece of land. Many nests have a little fence for keeping the young safe from falling into the water, or being predated by nasty creatures.
I went back three times, because it is such a treat to see how they are fed. The picture more a less tells it all, the speeding parent with a giant dragonfly, the young squeeking and opening their beaks, the parent dropping the food on the fly, and then off for another meal. This goes on 16 hours a day!
It is amazing how fast they grow. These chicks four days later started practicing flying, and another 4 days later they were gone.
In the mean time in other nests you could see them almost grow every minute. For sure I will return next year to see this spectacle again!
I think I took about 1000 pictures, many off them worth while showing. Enjoy.