Sibling Roseate Spoonbills
by Rebecca Herranen
Title
Sibling Roseate Spoonbills
Artist
Rebecca Herranen
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Siblings ~ I have spent the last four months social distancing while watching the nesting birds around Florida. A gold mine! Way back in December I saw for the very first time the Roseate Spoonbill and I was smitten with these beautiful pink but rather odd prehistoric looking birds. In the spring they fly north as it warms up so never really got a great opportunity to see them again, but I was always looking for them.
We watched the various birds build nests, lay there eggs, got to see the little hatchlings and watch them grow up. It was amazing. However I always wanted to see the little Roseate Spoonbills.
We made a weekend trip to St. Augustine, Florida where there is a large bird rookery and heard there were nesting Roseate Spoonbills. On our way there my husband had said he read that spoonbills cull the nest sometimes, it made me sad to think of, but this is nature. I had managed not to see anything like that through the whole season and I didn't want to see it now.
I was so incredibly happy to witness this seen instead. A nest full of Roseate Spoonbill chicks in two sizes. I don't know if this little one is a late comer, a runt or what, but it was so teeny tiny compared to the other two who were about 1/3 the size of the parent. What was so heartwarming is that this big brother as I call him was actually tenderly taking care of his little sister. He cuddled her and even tried to feed her. I was then told that spoonbills do this at times, larger chicks will help out with their little siblings.
I LOVE the ending to this story better.
Uploaded
May 19th, 2021
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Comments (58)
Alex Lapidus
Congratulations! This fine image of an identified wild bird is featured in the Wild Birds of the World - A Nature Photography Group. Please take a moment to add it to the April - June 2024 Feature Archive discussion for additional visibility.
Larry Kniskern
Rebecca – I wanted to let you know that your stunning image was a top-five candidate from 55 initial considerations in the selection of the May 2024 "Photo of the Month" for the Go Take a Hike Photography Group. Even though not advancing as a finalist, this image is most worthy of recognition as a superb photographic effort, so congratulations and well done! Please feel free to add this gem to the “Candidates for Photo of the Month” discussion thread in the group.
Larry Kniskern
Congratulations, Rebecca – your stunning scene has been selected as a Group Admin’s Pick from the Go Take a Hike Photography Group’s Nature’s Babies photo contest! It has been placed in the Special Recognition thread in the group discussion board for archive.
Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! Your fantastic photographic art has been chosen as a Camera Art Group feature! You are invited to archive your work in the feature archive discussion. There are many other discussions in the group where you can promote your art even further more.
Judy Vincent
Sweet capture! Congratulations! This will be the “Wild Animal Babies” photo of the day on the USA Photographers group home page for 5/2/23!
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