Hwangro, Capturing the Entire Process from Hatching to Fledging... Documenting 67 Days of Growth

Installation of Observation Cameras at Ulsan's 'Taehwagang Samho Migratory Bird Park'

Fourth Observation Following Intermediate Egret, Grey Heron, and Great Egret

The yellow heron incubating five eggs (communal nesting).

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Ulsan City recorded the 67-day growth process of a Cattle Egret chick from hatching to fledging through observation cameras (CCTV) installed at Samho Migratory Bird Park from May 16 to August 1.

Fledging refers to the stage when a bird chick grows and leaves the nest.

This observation record is the fourth among the heron species nesting in bamboo along the Taehwa River, following the Intermediate Egret in 2019, the Little Egret in 2020, and the Great Egret in 2021.

Until now, the egrets observed had nests on top of the bamboo forest, making observation easy, but the Cattle Egret nests inside the bamboo forest, making observation difficult.

Then, on May 16, the observation camera (CCTV) captured the image of a Cattle Egret incubating five eggs in a nest beyond the branches.

As the male and female Cattle Egrets took turns incubating the eggs, the first and second eggs hatched on June 5, Environment Day.

First hatching.

On June 7, the third and fourth eggs hatched, and on June 9, the last fifth egg hatched, bringing five little lives into the world.

Cattle Egrets are known to incubate their eggs for about 22 to 26 days (average 23 days). The eggs that hatched this time are estimated to have been laid around May 12 to 14.

After hatching, until June 20, the male and female took turns keeping the chicks warm, and scenes of feeding them with fish and frogs were also captured.

Feeding the frog.

Each time they switched incubation, the Cattle Egrets raised their heads in greeting and briefly stayed together in the nest before leaving.

At the point when the down feathers gradually changed to thicker feathers, the mother bird cared for the chicks beside the nest and soon left the nest, visiting only to feed them.

On July 5, the 30th day after hatching, two of the chicks showed signs of leaving the nest by climbing onto branches next to the nest.

From around July 22, the young birds that had flown from the nest only returned to the nest when feeding, and from July 27, the mother bird was observed feeding to encourage fledging.

Isoyu also feeding.

From August 1, such scenes were no longer observed, so it is judged that fledging was completed on July 31.

An official from Ulsan City said, “Observation records of the breeding process of Cattle Egrets nesting in the middle of bamboo forests are so rare that no publicly available data could be found,” and added, “The observation video materials will be used for promoting Ulsan as an international migratory bird city and for educational purposes.”

The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a summer migratory bird that spends the winter in Southeast Asia and visits the Taehwa River in April for breeding.

During the breeding season, the crown, back, and chest show an orange color, which changes to white or pale yellow in winter.

The male shakes the tree or raises its bill vertically to court, and before mating, the bill and legs turn red.

Compared to other egrets, it is smaller in size, has a short and thick neck, a thick and sturdy bill, and a hunched posture.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.