UTSW Rookery

Spring 2016 I started visiting the bird rookery at UTSW Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. It was my first time to see a rookery. In this gallery I am attempting to document what takes place in a rookery for each species of aquatic bird that comes here. It has been an amazing journey that I am sharing here. There are 8 species that nest here and I will divide them by species in the order that they show up.

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Newlyweds View 1

This is a newly paired up couple of great egrets. You know it is new because the lores in front of the eyes are still a vivid green. Once their nest is built and eggs are laid, that color will change back to yellow, no more need to attract a mate, they have one.
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
UT Southwest Medical Center Rookery

great egret egret white egret aquatic bird aquatic water fowl waders dallas texas ardea alba Rookery Southwest Medical Center Bird Rookery breeding season courtship behaviors SMC rookery breeding plumage coupled up mates paired up pair of great egrets breeding colors breeding plumes