Sarita Yeola  

Hand off for Nest Building by Sarita Yeola

March 2025 - Hand off for Nest Building

March 2025 - Sarita Yeola

Original

About the Image(s)

I took this photograph on March 2nd, 2025 at the local nature center on the Chattahoochee river. The Great Blue Heron's (GBH) have a few nests up on the pine trees. In the nest building process the male GBH brings tree limbs from near by trees. He then hands off the limb to the female who will weave it into place to form a platform with a cup shaped nest. I took several images of the male flying in with the limb and of the hand off process but this was my favorite. I have included another image where the male is just about to land into the tree. For this final version I cropped the original and made some minor adjustments to the shadows and highlights. Although there was no noise in the image I passed it through Topaz Denoise to sharpen it.

Nikon Z8: 500mm, f/5.6, 1/2000s, ISO Auto.

This round’s discussion is now closed!
5 comments posted

Dr Isaac Vaisman   Dr Isaac Vaisman
Sarita, the GBH is a great bird to photograph specially during matting season and when they are building their nest. It is interesting behavior when the male brings a twig/stick and the female receives it and places in the nest being build, she will allow the male to jump on her back. This image also has a good environmental component.   Posted: 03/09/2025 11:23:41
Kathy Buckard   Kathy Buckard
Nice sharp image. Tells a great story! Shows the action and environment! Well done.   Posted: 03/10/2025 19:21:33
Gerhard Geldenhuys   Gerhard Geldenhuys
A good interaction between these to birds . It is a sharp image (be careful of over sharpening ). They are great birds to photograph. Nice story telling .&(   Posted: 03/19/2025 11:46:30
Gloria Grandolini   Gloria Grandolini
Sarita great combination of photography and narrative. Wonderful image showing the interaction. It is sharp and the blue and green background colors enhance the image I think.   Posted: 03/19/2025 23:43:31
Grace Cohen   Grace Cohen
Sarita - This image does indeed tell a wonderful story of these Great blue Herons. Nicely done - I love it! For your consideration, in the attached image, I played with tightening the crop a bit so the dark upper left doesn't detract from your main subject, then just slightly lightened the remaining pine cones which I think strengthens the focus on your birds.   Posted: 03/24/2025 23:07:55
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