Great Egret nestlings at UTSWMC rookery, Texas

Li’l Punk Rockers? 🎸🤘🎸

Sibling rivalry amongst chicks: Two young, fuzzy-headed American Great Egret nestlings compete by sparring with their beaks, while their parent stands behind them in the nest.

Image 1. Ardea alba ssp. egretta [American Great Egret] · Photographed in Texas, USA (Dallas County), these tiny Great Egret nestlings sport upright head-feathers that resemble a punk-rocker mohawk. In the background, their parent’s feet tower over them.

Photo by @shivashenoy · April 2021 · © Shiva Shenoy · some rights reserved ·

Bird With Its Parent journal · iNaturalist · January 17, 2023

Who can resist these cute little babies! Hobby photographer Shiva Shenoy spotted these youngsters in Dallas, at the on-campus bird rookery of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC)*. A bird rookery at an academic medical center, in an urban area? What could be better!

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Dallas, the rookery’s small wooded area (seen here on Google maps, UTSWMC ) makes a big environmental impact. I’m reminded of the words of @laurasea (regarding Wood Storks observed in Florida, at a pond in Walmart’s parking lot ): "If only we planned and set aside little spaces for creatures around us. There would be so much more life." So thanks to all the businesses, organizations and environmental advocates who do just that.

The following photo shows more of this proud Great Egret parent: