United States Venice Area Audubon Society Rookery

41 images 1 contributors Shoot with care

Wayne Foote

White Ibis.

White Ibis.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/5000sf/6ISO 1000
Florida Cormorant

Florida Cormorant

Wayne Foote

420mm1/320sf/6ISO 400
The area includes purple martin houses. This is a female purple martin and chick.

The area includes purple martin houses. This is a female purple martin and chick.

Wayne Foote

300mm1/800sf/5ISO 400
Common Gallinule (immature). Most breeding birds have not arrived by November. This is a year-round resident.

Common Gallinule (immature). Most breeding birds have not arrived by November. This is a year-round resident.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/1600sf/8ISO 800
Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

Wayne Foote

420mm1/100sf/6ISO 1600
Black-crowned Night Heron.

Black-crowned Night Heron.

Wayne Foote

The people watching the rookery may be professional photographers.

The people watching the rookery may be professional photographers.

Wayne Foote

40mm1/320sf/6ISO 200
Others are more casual observers.

Others are more casual observers.

Wayne Foote

70mm1/400sf/6ISO 200
The egret on the left is almost fully fledged and flies on occasion. The one on the right is younger. Note the red blood-filled growing pinfeathers on the wings of the younger bird.

The egret on the left is almost fully fledged and flies on occasion. The one on the right is younger. Note the red blood-filled growing pinfeathers on the wings of the younger bird.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/1000sf/6ISO 400
Two egrets greeting each other. The occasion is the return of the bird on the right and, perhaps, lunch.

Two egrets greeting each other. The occasion is the return of the bird on the right and, perhaps, lunch.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/3200sf/6ISO 400
Two immature Great Blue Herons awaiting the return of an adult. Despite the seeming height distance, both birds are the same size and approximate age.

Two immature Great Blue Herons awaiting the return of an adult. Despite the seeming height distance, both birds are the same size and approximate age.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/500sf/6ISO 400
A very young anhinga. Note the downy feathers on the entire body except on the wing tips.

A very young anhinga. Note the downy feathers on the entire body except on the wing tips.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/320sf/6ISO 400
A somewhat older anhinga. The body is still downy but the wing feathers are much more developed. The brown bird in the background is an immature Black-crowned Night Heron.

A somewhat older anhinga. The body is still downy but the wing feathers are much more developed. The brown bird in the background is an immature Black-crowned Night Heron.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/500sf/6ISO 400
The adult female anhinga on the extreme left is feeding the nestling on the extreme right while the nestling in the middle squawks. Note the feeding bird has its head fully into the mouth and throat of the adult female.

The adult female anhinga on the extreme left is feeding the nestling on the extreme right while the nestling in the middle squawks. Note the feeding bird has its head fully into the mouth and throat of the adult female.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/500sf/6ISO 400
The rookery itself is located on the island visible just beyond the watchers on the left.

The rookery itself is located on the island visible just beyond the watchers on the left.

Wayne Foote

24mm1/250sf/6ISO 200
Glossy ibis.

Glossy ibis.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/400sf/6ISO 400
One of six bat houses. Three of the bat houses blew down in Hurricane Ian, October 2022.

One of six bat houses. Three of the bat houses blew down in Hurricane Ian, October 2022.

Wayne Foote

70mm1/100sf/6ISO 200
The light and speed of the bats makes bat shots very difficult.

The light and speed of the bats makes bat shots very difficult.

Wayne Foote

24mm1/250sf/3ISO 2500
Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Wayne Foote

420mm1/1000sf/6ISO 200
Common Gallinule (adult). Most breeding birds have not arrived by November. This is a year-round resident.

Common Gallinule (adult). Most breeding birds have not arrived by November. This is a year-round resident.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/640sf/8ISO 800
Snowy Egret. Most breeding birds have not arrived by November. This is a year-round resident.

Snowy Egret. Most breeding birds have not arrived by November. This is a year-round resident.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/6400sf/6ISO 800
Florida Softshell Turtle. The largest freshwater turtle in Florida. This shell is about 18-24 inches/0.5-0.6 m in diameter.

Florida Softshell Turtle. The largest freshwater turtle in Florida. This shell is about 18-24 inches/0.5-0.6 m in diameter.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/100sf/8ISO 200
Black-Crowned Night Herons.

Black-Crowned Night Herons.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/3200sf/6ISO 640
Great Egret.

Great Egret.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/640sf/6ISO 1000
Great Egrets. Egrets lay eggs, usually three, over a period of days. This appears to increase the chance that at least one will survive. In this case the two older chicks pushed the youngest out of the nest. It is the small white spot below the nest.This is normal behavior.

Great Egrets. Egrets lay eggs, usually three, over a period of days. This appears to increase the chance that at least one will survive. In this case the two older chicks pushed the youngest out of the nest. It is the small white spot below the nest.This is normal behavior.

Wayne Foote

420mm1/640sf/6ISO 1000
Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Wayne Foote

420mm1/2500sf/6ISO 6400
Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron

Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron

Wayne Foote

420mm1/1000sf/6ISO 6400
Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Wayne Foote

420mm1/320sf/6ISO 800
Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Wayne Foote

420mm1/1000sf/6ISO 6400
Anhinga and a successful hunt.

Anhinga and a successful hunt.

Wayne Foote

Great Egret mating dance.

Great Egret mating dance.

Wayne Foote

Two predators - Great Blue Heron and Loggerhead Shrike.

Two predators - Great Blue Heron and Loggerhead Shrike.

Wayne Foote

Immature Lesser Blue Heron.

Immature Lesser Blue Heron.

Wayne Foote

Great Egret in full breeding colors.

Great Egret in full breeding colors.

Wayne Foote

Black-crowned Night Heron.

Black-crowned Night Heron.

Wayne Foote

Great Blue Heron male delivering nest building materials to the female.

Great Blue Heron male delivering nest building materials to the female.

Wayne Foote

Anhinga and a successful hunt.

Anhinga and a successful hunt.

Wayne Foote

Great Egret mating dance.

Great Egret mating dance.

Wayne Foote

Two predators - Great Blue Heron and Loggerhead Shrike.

Two predators - Great Blue Heron and Loggerhead Shrike.

Wayne Foote

Immature Lesser Blue Heron.

Immature Lesser Blue Heron.

Wayne Foote

Great Egret in full breeding colors.

Great Egret in full breeding colors.

Wayne Foote

Shoot with care
During nesting season be extra careful not to disturb the birds and their habitats. Use an appropriate zoom lens and keep you distance. In addition to the general rules above, no dogs and no drones.
About this spot
During nesting months (usually beginning in December and lasting through May), daytime activity includes Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Anhingas, Snowy Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Glossy Ibises, Green Herons, Tricolored Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons busily building or enhancing nests, courting, incubating eggs, and raising chicks.

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Essential Information

Web links

https://www.veniceaudubon.org/rookery

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