A great blue heron chick interacts with its mother at Wakodahatchee Wetlands, in Delray Beach, Florida. Photo: Ronen Tivony
My great blue heron chick photo published in The Atlantic depicts a downy chick stretching toward its mother’s bill at Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, on March 3, 2026. Featured in the “Photos: Birds in Early Springtime” essay, the image highlights parent-offspring bonding amid Florida’s wading bird boom
Wakodahatchee: premier heron chick viewing
Wakodahatchee Wetlands’ 50-acre boardwalk loops islands with multi-species colonies, positioning great blue heron nests 10–25 feet away at eye level.
Heron chick-mother dynamics
Great blue heron chicks hatch from 3–5 eggs after 27–28 days incubation, emerging downy with grey eyes that yellow later. The largest chick dominates regurgitated fish deliveries, often pecking siblings; mothers shade, brood, and feed most in first 3 weeks.
FAQs
What camera gear was used?
Sony A1 II with Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens. Monopod for boardwalk stability.
Nest-boardwalk distance?
10–25 feet eye-level
When do heron chick interactions peak?
Weeks 2-4 post-hatch.
Where was the heron chick photo taken?
Wakodahatchee Wetlands, 13000 North Jog Road, Delray Beach, FL 33446. Sunrise to sunset daily. Free parking.
About Ronen Tivony
Ronen Tivony is an award-winning wildlife photojournalist and a Certified Florida Master Naturalist through the University of Florida. With over 30 years of experience behind the lens, ranging from high-stakes news photojournalism to intimate wildlife encounters, Ronen brings a “story-first” approach to nature photography.
In 2020, he was awarded a prestigious Fellowship by the Royal Photographic Society (FRPS), a distinction that reflects his technical mastery and artistic vision. His work is regularly featured in global publications, including The New York Times, National Geographic, BBC, CNN, and The Guardian.
Through his company, Wildlife with Ronen, LLC he leads specialized photography workshops across Florida’s most iconic ecosystems. His goal is to help photographers of all levels move beyond basic settings to capture images that communicate behavior and emotion.