Yesterday morning this Yellow Crowned Night Heron stood near a nest occupied the previous year.
Sometimes YCNH looked up.
Its coral red legs signal courtship time. See that yellow area on its crown. Yep, that's where it gets its name.
I noticed a span of quiet with abundant feather preening, likely readying for what followed: a squawk and display.
The squawk.
The display.
Its partner, in an adjacent tree within view, squawked back, no display. This relating dance continued for about an hour.
Eventually, they met in the nest.
Twice today I looked for the pair. Once in the morning and then early evening. They were in the same place both times. This is what I saw.
And, I noticed a lot of napping. Of course, they are nocturnal birds.
