Refuge provides update on wildlife
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge reported that green herons work together to rear their young. The male selects a secluded nesting location, often hidden under overhanging branches. After settling on a location, the male will bring nesting materials while the female constructs the nest. Sometimes green herons will use materials from old nests or repurpose the abandoned nests of snowy egrets and night herons. As the pair works to gather materials and build the nest, it grows into a platform of sticks around 8-12 inches with a shallow divot. Green herons lay three to five eggs, which both parents work together to incubate over 19-21 days. When the chicks hatch, they are mostly helpless with wide eyes and some feather down. Both parents work to feed the fast-growing chicks, which start to clamber out of the nest at 17-19 days and take flight at around 21-23 days old. The parents will continue to feed the chicks as they begin to explore.