New Beginnings

Photographer

Jo Emerald

Category

Nature Photography - Wildlife

Company

Submission Group

Amateur

Year

2026

Country / Region:

United States

Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias), while usually solitary in nature, nest in colonies for protection. These amazing birds, normally nest in deciduous trees. The trees leaf out, making photography impossible, but this group nests on old pilings, making observation and photography delightfully possible. They start out with a very shallow nest that leaves you wondering if the eggs will roll off, but they continue building the nest around the eggs and later the chicks. With a gentle breeze blowing their feathers, and the sun perfectly lighting the scene, this pair were just beginning their courtship and the building of their nest.