Mark in TX
Bare-throated tiger herons (branchlings)
About 150 yards off the coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula, I came across a mangrove thicket. I followed the flight of an adult bare-throated tiger heron until she landed. (Please see my post immediately preceding this one.)
I soon discovered the reason she had chosen this landing spot: Her nest containing two branchlings was nearby. Had she not landed close to the nest, I'm sure I wouldn't have spotted the young ones; her abiity to conceal the nest is quite remarkable.
The nest was perched about 15 feet above the water. Below the nest, a pair of saltwater crocodiles waited in the hope that one of the branchlings would make a misstep. 'Tis amazing how precarious a young life can be.
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Bare-throated tiger herons (branchlings)
About 150 yards off the coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula, I came across a mangrove thicket. I followed the flight of an adult bare-throated tiger heron until she landed. (Please see my post immediately preceding this one.)
I soon discovered the reason she had chosen this landing spot: Her nest containing two branchlings was nearby. Had she not landed close to the nest, I'm sure I wouldn't have spotted the young ones; her abiity to conceal the nest is quite remarkable.
The nest was perched about 15 feet above the water. Below the nest, a pair of saltwater crocodiles waited in the hope that one of the branchlings would make a misstep. 'Tis amazing how precarious a young life can be.
Quintana Roo, Mexico