[SBB] Nest Activity at Palo Alto Baylands

[Ron Wolf <[[email protected]]>]

  Nesting activity has finally picked up at the Bayland
heronry.

   The BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERONS are extremely active.
I counted 26 nests in the trees around the ranger
station and the picnic area. It's almost certain I
missed a few there.

   It's hard to tell how many black crowned night
herons are nesting in the palm trees behind the
duck pond. From the individuals flying in and out,
I figure there are least 10 more nests there.

   The night herons are very busy bringing in nest
material for the last two days. There are very good
photo opportunities (but for the lousy weather).

   The first wo pair of GREAT EGRETS are also building
nestsin the palm trees and flying in with sticks every
5 or 10 minutes. They also are providing good photo
opportunities. Last year, there were seven pair of
great egrets nesting in those palms.

    Only a few pair of SNOWY EGRETS have started nests
in the palm trees, but there are another dozen birds
hanging around and squabbling over sites. There's
been much more territorial confrontation for the
last two days. It looks like the snowy egrets are
about to start nesting in bigger numbers.

    The BLACK NECKED STILTS and AMERICAN AVOCETS are
preparing nest sites east of the Interpretive Center
parking lot. That had been an active nesting area
for quite a few years, but the numbers were down
significantly last year. It seemed like that colony
may have suffered more than the usual amount of
predation for being too close to all the egrets.
In any case, it looks like that numbers may be
back up again this year.

    Finally, a pair of KILLDEER were mating in the
parking lot adjacent to the picnic area. The entire
lot has been closed off.


-- Ron Wolf

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