Rookery Update 6/14

14 Jun Rookery Update 6/14

Photo by Paula Griffin

Now that peak rookery season has passed, the early-nesting species’ chicks are beginning to fledge.  Quite a few Great egret and Roseate spoonbills have fledged, though there are still chicks of both species viewable.  The large Wood stork chicks typically hang around the swamp until late July/ early August.  Some of the Snowy egrets and Tri-colored herons have double-clutched and are still incubating eggs. Younger chicks can be observed for the next month, then this year’s rookery season will begin to end until next March.  The four Green heron nests within the zoo are at the following locations: 2 nests in the Live oak tree by the Education building, 1 nest within the palm tree in the center of the Gharial exhibit, and 1 nest within the palm tree to the far left in the Orinico crocodile enclosure.