Remains found beneath heron nests. Clockwise from top left: egg shells and membranes, crayfish claw and fish backbone, fused rear vertebrae and pelvis (from 3 different aged herons), heron feathers, heron skull and mandible, leg and wing bones.
Did you know that you can learn a lot by what is on the ground at the base of a heron’s nest tree? A heron nest is only so big, so there’s no room for food remains and other forms of heron “trash”. Herons simply just pitch it all over the edge. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. Light blue eggshells with some membranes in tact indicate a successful hatch; but you may also find remains of young herons that met their premature demise by falling to the ground. Adult feathers that were molted are often found. You might find out that crayfish is a favorite food of the family above. This disposal area for the herons nesting above can really be a treasure trove to a researcher trying to find out how dam removal affects the birds that use a river.
Danielle DAuria
maineheron.wordpress.com 