For years I have been aware of the Grotto Lake Rookery in the Fergus Falls, Minnesota town park. However the distance from Duluth always made me reject making the long round trip drive (9 hours). However, when my friend Jim suggested reserving a Prairie Chicken blind at the Hamden Slough Wildlife Reserve which is also within easy striking distance of Grotto Lake, I jumped! After a fantastic morning with the Prairie Chickens out on the prairie in the blind which started loooonng before dawn (blog post coming), I suggested we try the Great Egret Rookery in the afternoon. Jim was game, and we made the now much shorted drive to Fergus Falls (now only 2 hours round trip).

Oh my did we strike hit the jackpot! The ice on the pond had only gone out shortly before our visit and the Great Egrets had apparently only just arrived via their Spring migration within the past 24 to 48 hours. The birds were courting like crazy, while at the same time decked out in their finest mating plumage!!! My apologies for the HUGE number of photographs. This was an amazing time with the Great Egrets and I as much am documenting the experiencing for myself. (Audubon, Minnesota and Fergus Falls are essentially due west of Duluth via a four hour drive … from the Boreal Forest to the Great Plains and Prairie Potholes)

The Rookery (on a nest)

You brought me a stick!!!

Take-Off!

On the nest …

Great Egret Mating Displays

A Great Egret Couple Mating

A slight disagreement!

The Joy of Flight (Take-Off)

A small view of the Great Egret Rookery (two nests out of many, many trees)