The Black-crowned Night Herons of White Point Gardens ~ Graduating Class of 2018!
Every hot and humid Charleston summer the live oaks in White Point Gardens become the nesting grounds for Black-crowned Night Herons. Some people know it as Battery Park but the official name is White Point Gardens. The Gardens are in the historic district of downtown Charleston just south of Broad on the southern tip of the peninsula. Every summer it is hoped that the night herons return. This summer was no exception!
Last summer was our first experience seeing the night herons enjoying the park. They were walking down the sidewalk, jumping up on park benches, and sleeping and resting on low hanging branches, where it was quite easy to get up close to them. They acted like they owned the place, seemingly unafraid of the public.
They like to hang out around and on the military statues, on the cannons and piles of cannonballs, which were placed in the park after the Civil War. They nest in the very trees that the pirate Stede Bonnet and his men were hanged on! The place is said to be haunted but the night herons don’t seem to mind.
Most of the summer the juveniles remain in their nest with the adults tending to them. You can hear the chatter back and forth and get glimpses of them up through the trees. But around Labor Day weekend the juveniles find their wings and can be spotted all around the park.
I didn’t want this summer going by without checking out the Class of 2018. This season’s young ones didn’t disappoint. There are quite a few of them and they are becoming active. I took a number of photographs and thought I’d share some of them with you.
Class Troublemaker!
Top of His Class!
Most Likely to Succeed!
Most Adventuresome!
Class President!
Best Dressed!
Class Clown!
Best Looking!
Most Likely to Improve!
Let’s hope they all fly off to lead healthy and productive lives. Soon they will return to White Point Gardens as adults and have nests of their own. Funny how time flies! ☺
Please check back soon to see what’s on my easel next. I’m thinking it might be another marsh painting???
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion...”
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Drawing by William R. Beebe