We are delighted now to be bringing you streamed live pictures from an active Grey Heron nest at Stocker’s Lake. To view the stream live please visit our Livestream page.
Alternatively go to our YouTube channel where you will also find recordings of previous days’ streams. e.g. you can view this mating behaviour from Feb 7th.
Stocker’s Lake is home to the largest colony of Grey Herons, or “Heronry” , in Herts - around 20 nests. These are all located on an island in the north of the lake. For the last five or so years we have had a camera on the island and have been bringing you recorded images of the birds’ breeding efforts. This year, having now largely overcome some significant technology issues, we are able to stream live images.
There are limitations – e.g. there is no sound. Also the key equipment is offshore and solar-powered. Because of this the stream is off overnight and does not always get going until late morning, especially on an overcast day. On February 8th, which was especially wet and gloomy, the stream did not start at all. However we expect lengthening days to help as the season progresses.
All being well we expect the current target nest to produce hatched eggs by mid-March. Nature is however unpredictable and there is every possibility of the nest eventually failing, but if so we should be able to redirect the camera to one of several other active nests nearby. Little Egrets, which nest later, will be a possibility later on.
We will keep you posted.