A few weeks ago, Glenn Steplock notified me about the Richmond Hill Great Blue Heron heronry...and noted the birds would be coming back soon. Glenn has been keeping watch and as of this past Tuesday (16 March) there were still no herons present. However, yesterday he noted six Great Blues present and this morning when I went there, from about 655 to 810, I noted 9 herons present. There were about 15 visible nests in a large oak (?) tree and 8 or so nests off to the south in several smaller trees. This morning there were 3 nests that each had a pair of herons present, 3 nests with single birds and 2 birds were hanging around seemingly not attached to any nest (yet). The pairs of herons at the three nests were all shnowing courtship behaviour...bowing and displaying to one another. There were also several bouts of territorial defense when paired or single birds would thrust their bills at other birds encroaching onto their nest territory or simply getting too close. Glenn and I will try to keep posting on nesting progress in this heronry as the season progresses.
Directions: From Highway 401 in Toronto go north on Highway 404, past Mackenzie Dr. and exit at the next one, Elgin Mills Rd. Go left to Leslie St., go right (north) just over 1 km to a school with a large parking lot on your right. Pull intgo the parking lot and the heronry will be dead ahead in the tallest tree. Chip Weseloh _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
