Feather Tiara…by Brad Marks

Greetings all. I am a bit behind on a rather length (ever expanding) to-do list. I did have my MRI this week, but I am unable to get into the surgeon until the 17th to get the official readout. Should I be concerned that immediately after the procedure the MRI technician recommended I check with the reception to see if they can get me in before then!?! That was actually already in the plan so I’ll be calling from time to time to see if there are any cancellations I can jump on. Meanwhile I am “trying” to get the homestead ready in case I have a lengthy downtime. Less work for Linda! Also working on the latest haunt tutorial video which is taking way longer than expected – all these newfangled tools feels like drinking from a fire hose. . While I “try” to get caught up on everything, Brad is going to take you back to South Carolina for another type of “tri”.

Take it away Brad…

On our last full day in Hilton Head this year, Jan and I decided to drive a short distance (90 minutes or so from our hotel with stops along the way) to a new location suggested by Ted Jennings (see his site here).  We visited the Port Royal Cypress Wetlands which appears to be right in the middle of the town of Port Royal, SC.  It is a small body of water with limited parking, but we were able to find a parking space near the boardwalk overlook.  The whole surface area of the water is only a couple of acres based on my estimate.  Having said that, it took Jan and I a couple of hours to walk all the way around the half-mile boardwalk and trails.  No, it’s not really larger on the inside.  There were so many birds, and alligators, we really didn’t know where to start to point the cameras.

In the past, Jan and I have found the occasional Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor), or Great Egret, or Great Blue Heron in the marsh areas we visit.  Normally we only see one, or maybe two Tricolors at a particular location.  This time, there had to be a dozen Tricolors just hanging around in the trees on a small island in the middle of the wetlands. 

The featured Tricolors today were all on the island, except for one recluse hanging out with the Yellow-bellied Slider turtles along the edge of the water.  Even though they nest in trees, I’m always surprised to see a wading bird sitting on a tree branch.  And seeing the amount of alligators cruising in the water around the island, this is a prudent strategy. 

Hit the jump to learn more about these Port Royal Tris.

In reality, there are more than three colors on a Tricolor.  Again, what’s with the naming committees?!  The primary colors we see are a blue, maroon/mauve/lavender (depending on the season) and a white stripe running down the front of their neck to their belly feathers.  Female Tricolors are slightly smaller than the males, but unless they are standing side by side, I don’t think I could tell the difference based on size.  Males will have slightly more intense color during the breeding season, which is also when they put their crown of feathers to use.

This one is probably thinking, “Did anyone see that?  Is anyone looking at me?”  Male Tricolors use the crown feathers as part of a mating display.  As I mentioned before, Jan and I have seen Tricolors before, but have never seen the crown of feathers deployed. 

I can’t help but wondering if the Tricolor is thinking, “This wetland dries out my feathers so much.”  I know, we shouldn’t assign human emotions or actions to the animal kingdom.  I bet nearly everyone reading this thought the exact same thing.  C’mon, admit it.

In reality, the Tricolor is not really scratching, but it is showing me part of the preening process.  The head, and surrounding feathers, is the only place a Tricolor cannot reach with its bill.  You may be surprised if you’ve ever seen them twist their long delicate looking necks through at least 540 degrees to reach that one place in the back.  Ah, yeah, that’s the spot.

Are all of my feathers present and accounted for?  This is actually part of the preening process.  Nearly continual preening helps keep feathers in top condition by removing dirt or mites.  Some sites say a wading bird, or any bird for that matter, will inspect/preen nearly every single feather several times in a single day.  They will spend a significant part of their waking hours preening, when they aren’t searching for food.  Preening, other than keeping feathers healthy, is useful in courtship displays.

I’m looking around for Jan to see if she’s ready to follow the path around the back of the wetland.  I finally find her partway around the path already and started walking to catch up to her.  Near the “back” of the wetland (compared to where we entered) is a boardwalk that runs for nearly the entire length of the wetland.  Someone put a lot of thought into safely accessing the wetlands.  I say “safely” because just then a few gators made themselves known by silkily cruising through the greenery floating on the surface.  These were all smallish American Alligators, which usually means the big ones are hiding someplace else.  We were not disappointed as the large gator was soon spotted on the back of Tricolor Island (probably not the island’s real name).  Another large ‘gator was resting near a batch of Yellow-bellied Slider turtles at the edge of the water near the far end of the boardwalk.

Tricolors are a bit more of an active hunter than their egret or larger heron cousins.  Oh sure, they will stand still for a bit before striking, but have also been known to chase prey through shallow water.  They will eat whatever they can catch with their dagger-like bills.  Readers will be able to see a rather surprised looking minnow near the end of this Tricolor’s bill.

They typically forage alone, but don’t mind hanging out in trees with other Tricolors.  Or, frankly, any other wading bird. 

Jan captured this amazing stretch.  Tricolors are tall birds, but not quite as tall as a Great Blue Heron or a Great Egret; probably a close third.  It occurred to me that nothing small and tasty is safe within a 2-3 foot radius of a Tricolored Heron.  The neck, when stretched with the bill extended, is as long or slightly longer than the bird’s body.  I’m not counting the tail and wing feathers sticking out just a little bit in back.  That’s incredible balance and strength on top of such skinny legs.

Tricolored Herons are never far from water, fresh, salt or brackish.  Wouldn’t you stick close if this is where your food and your nest building materials come from? Tricolors are “colonial” nesters, sharing rookeries with other herons and egrets.  A pair of Tricolors will be monogamous throughout a breeding season, and maybe even longer.  Three to five eggs are laid and incubated for just over three weeks.  Both parents are involved in raising the nestlings from eggs to leaving the family nest.

Tricolored Herons can live up to 17 years in the wild given a relatively safe environment and a plentiful food supply.  Based on the environment where we found these, discounting alligators of course, I think many of these Tricolors will approach 17 years.

Thank you for reading.  If you would like to see more Tricolored Heron photos, please visit here.

Credits Thanks again to Jan for proofreading and editing.   Thanks to Jan for some of the photos in this story.