Heron T V
Our famous 'Heron Cam' is back!
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Since 2006 we have had live CCTV pictures (in spring) from a nest in Cleeve Heronry in the woodland just behind Cleeve Nursery. The picture (right) shows the 2 adults with the first of two chicks hatched and successfully raised in 2006. On this page we will endeavour to keep a diary of the herons progress this year, check back for the latest news. |
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Latest News
23/06/10 The chicks are now fully grown and have flown the nest.
01/06/10 The chicks are now almost full grown and will fledge soon.
02/05/10 Both chicks are doing well and growing fast!
11/05/10 2nd egg hatched
09/04/10 1st egg hatched
17/03/10 Three eggs seen on the nest
11/03/10 First egg laid
Feb 2010 Finaly managed to get the camera, transmitter and receiver working at the same time and we now have live pictures of the herons nest, complete with heron!
History
In 2005 Alan Down, having watched the Heron colony steadily grow for 20 years, decided to install CCTV to watch a pair of herons breed. After consultation with Avon Wildlife Trust, who own the land that the heronry stands on, a plan of action was drawn up.
The camera and equipment was sourced and fitted by Keith and Linda Hall. They regularly make and provide specialist bird boxes often with mini cameras installed inside. They particularly specialise in boxes for owls and other birds of prey.
Robin Prytherch, who has for more than 35 years conducted the national heron survey in
The equipment was installed by local tree surgeon Russell Stenning of The Bristol Branch (russellstenning@aol.com), who climbed the 30Ft tree to do so.
In 2006 the camera first went live, we all watched, fascinated, as the pair laid and hatched 4 eggs and successfully raised 2 chicks to adulthood.
This was repeated in 2007.
2008 was not a good year for our pair of herons, 4 eggs were laid between 10th and 17th of February. These hatched 4 weeks later during one of the wettest coldest springs for a long time. Unfortunately none of the chicks survived.
We are hopeful of a better outcome in 2009, the cold weather should delay laying and give the chicks a fighting chance of reaching adulthood. It looks like the herons may not use the nest that our camera is trained on! At first it appeared that the herons were repairing the nest but now it is clear that they have been taking twigs from the nest to build a new one just out of shot. However we remain hopeful that we will still see herons coming and going. We have managed to catch a few glimpse of the herons coming to and from the nest. We hope to have better luck next breeding season and will hopefully adjust the camera, so they can't avoid the limelight again!
