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In this series of images in La Vanguardia Readers’ Photos we can see the gray herons in full activity, including the phase of finding a mate to create the nest and expand the family.
These are scenes that can be seen in Les Masies de Voltregà, on the Ter river as it passes through the Osona region. You can see the courtship of the gray herons and how they are also creating their nests twig by twig.
Gray herons breed in colonies, usually in tall trees near water. There is a viewpoint located in Les Masies de Voltregà and the nests are on the other side of the river, already in the municipality of Torelló, so you can observe and photograph these birds without disturbing them.
Nests start out as a small platform of sticks, but can end up being a huge mass of accumulated material.
During courtship, the male emits calls from the chosen nesting site. When the female arrives, both begin to spread their wings and stretch their necks upward, and then swing them back and forth simultaneously.
At the same time they flex their legs before returning to their normal position. They also perform displays in which they stretch their necks forward and then lower their heads to the level of their feet while both chattering with their beaks.
Once paired, the two herons pet each other and groom each other. Then the male begins to offer the female sticks that she will add to the nest.
