Spent some restful days in Victoria, capitol city of British Columbia. One of the main attractions for me is the heronry in Beacon Hill Park the large city park in down town. The Great Blue Herons nest here and it is amazing to me that they do so well in a area very close to the busy road and high-rise apartments with hundreds of people passing under their nests day after day. The people of Victoria are very considerate of their beloved GBH. I spent a few hours taking photographs, they are nesting a bit late this year so it was an experience to watch the courtship behaviour with the male flying off to gather twigs, bringing them back for the female to work into a nest. Eagles also nest in the park and the racket the herons make when an eagle flies over sounds like a freight train. Eagles take many eggs and chicks. Last year at this time when I was down in Victoria there were chicks hatched but this year the nest building and courtship displays were fascinating to watch.
Jess