Great blue herons building a nest in Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Florida
Great blue herons building a nest in Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Florida (© Imagebroker/Alamy)
A day for giving
The largest heron in North America, the great blue heron makes its nest in a ‘basket’ made from twigs, usually placed high in a tree. The herons line the interior with moss, leaves, grass, and other softer materials, and tend to return to the same nesting site each year, though not the same nest. Male herons find building materials while the female assembles the nest, then both birds maintain and add to it. The helpful male heron shown here is presenting his mate with nesting material—he seems an apt mascot for this year’s Giving Tuesday.
© Imagebroker/Alamy