Kids (and adults) are doing just fine at Orlando Wetlands
Roger Simmons,
It’s been a fantastic spring season at Orland Wetlands with so many different birds nesting and successfully raising their young.
A pair of Sandhill Crane families started off the baby boom with their colts, and last I checked all three of the now-juvenile cranes were doing fine and growing like crazy.
The Roseate Spoonbills throughout the park have had a very productive spring with lots of little spoonies maturing into juvenile rosies.
Majestic Great Egrets have been busy too with their little chicks growing into not-so-little ones in what seems like a blink of an eye.
And other birds have been supporting their families too. On a recent Sunday evening I saw adults including a Black-crowned Night Heron, a Red-shouldered Hawk and an Osprey securing food or nesting material for their families.
Here’s a look at how the kids and adults have been doing at Orlando Wetlands.
Sandhill Crane colts, with one showing its dance moves, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Sandhill Crane colt with its parents, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Red-shouldered Hawk bringing home a nice frog for dinner for its family, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Great Egret chicks harassing their mom, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Great Egret chicks and their mom, who appears to “have had it up to HERE with you kids,” Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Great Egret chicks, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Great Egrets, appearing to get a late start on courtship, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Osprey bringing a catch back to its nest, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Young Roseate Spoonbills in their nest with their mother, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.At least one growing Roseate Spoonbill is working on flexing its wings to prepare for leaving the nest, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.A pair of Roseate Spoonbill juveniles, venturing a little bit away from their nest, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Juvenile Roseate Spoonbill lands after a short flight, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Juvenile Roseate Spoonbill learning how to use its wings, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Adult Roseate Spoonbill takes a break in a cypress tree before gathering nesting material, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Adult Roseate Spoonbills getting ready to find material for nest repairs, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Adult Roseate Spoonbill, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.Beauty and the Beasts. A young Roseate Spoonbill bathing among a group of not-as-cute Wood Storks, Orlando Wetlands, May 2024.
While the birds seemed to be preparing for some upcoming stormy weather, I found out that others at the UCF Arboretum were going about their usual routines.