What a lovely treat for me!
A second shot from the Black Tern spectacle. Here you can see the construction wherein the young are growing up, while the parents doing all sort of tricks to deliver the food. This shot is very hilarious, to see how two young stretch out for the same meal, one almost falling over in his amazement(?) about that big treat he/she is about to get!
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.
What a lovely treat for me!
A second shot from the Black Tern spectacle. Here you can see the construction wherein the young are growing up, while the parents doing all sort of tricks to deliver the food. This shot is very hilarious, to see how two young stretch out for the same meal, one almost falling over in his amazement(?) about that big treat he/she is about to get!
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.