Stuart Merrell
_Ntrlst1@aol.com_ (mailto:Ntrlst1@xxxxxxx)
Several brilliant theorists in our birding group (including me) were
speculating on the 100% lack
of Adult Little Blue Herons at Huntley meadows while there were
approximately--I could never count birds in whole integers accurately--11
immatures.
Hmmm...Immature, how denigrating. They are sooo immature!
Anyway, back to brilliant theorizing.
Simplest idea without cheating and looking through Google.
That young birds may have more reserve energy after fledging,
therefore getting further north faster than the adults.
This analog is similar to owl fledglings having more fat reserves--for later
survival--on being evicted by their parents, which in turn explains why the
young look bigger than their parents at this point.
Exploring this idea further. The adult Little Blue's would be comparable to
worn out parents saying to
themselves as they let their kids head off to college. "To heck with them!
We are staying home and shacking up.
Second idea. Maybe immature Little Blue's get the worst habitat or the
best. I don't
know, however where Huntley Meadows would rate in this respect.
Third idea. I have no idea.
your favorite naturalist-at-large,
Stuart
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