"Breeding Season"

#13182772

11 January 2026

A pair of great blue herons stands atop the nest they build together in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 11, 2026. Wakodahatchee Wetlands is one of Florida's premier birding hotspots.

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#13182773

11 January 2026

A male great blue heron passes nesting material to his mate as the pair builds their nest in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 11, 2026. Wakodahatchee Wetlands is one of Florida's premier birding hotspots.

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#13182774

11 January 2026

A male great blue heron tucks his beak around the female's neck in a courtship gesture as the pair collaborates on building their nest in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 11, 2026. Wakodahatchee Wetlands is one of Florida's premier birding hotspots.

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#13176848

11 January 2026

Great Blue Herons mate at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 9, 2026. Great blue herons typically mate for life, with males selecting the nest site and gathering most materials while females arrange them. They often start courtship displays in late fall or winter in southern Florida.

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#13176850

11 January 2026

A male Great Blue Heron brings a stick to its mate to build a nest in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 9, 2026. Great blue herons typically mate for life, with males selecting the nest site and gathering most materials while females arrange them. They often start courtship displays in late fall or winter in southern Florida.

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#13176851

11 January 2026

A male Great Blue Heron brings a stick to its mate to build a nest in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 9, 2026. Great blue herons typically mate for life, with males selecting the nest site and gathering most materials while females arrange them. They often start courtship displays in late fall or winter in southern Florida.

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#13176852

11 January 2026

A male Great Blue Heron brings a stick to its mate to build a nest in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 9, 2026. Great blue herons typically mate for life, with males selecting the nest site and gathering most materials while females arrange them. They often start courtship displays in late fall or winter in southern Florida.

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#13160141

6 January 2026

A great blue heron in breeding plumage performs a mating display ritual in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 5, 2026. Males arrive first to select nest sites, stretch necks upward, and clapper bills to court females during the noisy colonial breeding season. Once paired, they share incubation of two to six pale blue eggs in platform nests built high in trees over water.

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#13160142

6 January 2026

A great blue heron in breeding plumage performs a territorial display to ward off other birds from its nest in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 5, 2026. Males arrive first to select nest sites, stretch their necks upward, and clapper their bills to court females during the noisy colonial breeding season. Once paired, they share the incubation of two to six pale blue eggs in platform nests built high in trees over water.

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#13160143

6 January 2026

A great blue heron in breeding plumage performs a mating display ritual at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 5, 2026. Males arrive first to select nest sites, stretch their necks upward, and clapper their bills to court females during the noisy colonial breeding season. Once paired, they share the incubation of two to six pale blue eggs in platform nests built high in trees over water.

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#13160144

6 January 2026

A great blue heron in breeding plumage performs a territorial display to ward off other birds from its nest in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 5, 2026. Males arrive first to select nest sites, stretch their necks upward, and clapper their bills to court females during the noisy colonial breeding season. Once paired, they share the incubation of two to six pale blue eggs in platform nests built high in trees over water.

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#13160083

6 January 2026

A great blue heron perches atop its nest at Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach, Florida, on January 5, 2026. Great blue herons breed in noisy colonies in trees over water, where pairs share incubation of two to six pale blue eggs. Chicks remain in the nest for nearly two months, fed regurgitated food by both parents before fledging.

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#13160084

6 January 2026

A great blue heron perches atop its nest at Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach, Florida, on January 5, 2026. Great blue herons breed in noisy colonies in trees over water, where pairs share incubation of two to six pale blue eggs. Chicks remain in the nest for nearly two months, fed regurgitated food by both parents before fledging.

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#13150633

3 January 2026

A pair of great blue herons stands beside their nest at Orlando Wetlands Park in Christmas, Florida, on January 2, 2025. Great blue herons, North America's largest herons, can have wingspans of up to 6 feet and often return to the same nesting sites year after year.

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#13150634

3 January 2026

A pair of great blue herons stands beside their nest at Orlando Wetlands Park in Christmas, Florida, on January 2, 2025. Great blue herons, North America's largest herons, can have wingspans of up to 6 feet and often return to the same nesting sites year after year.

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#13150635

3 January 2026

A pair of great blue herons stands beside their nest at Orlando Wetlands Park in Christmas, Florida, on January 2, 2025. Great blue herons, North America's largest herons, can have wingspans of up to 6 feet and often return to the same nesting sites year after year.

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