The swamp extends over approximately two acres of natural wetlands and is home to around 65 American Alligators and many native turtles. During the non-breeding season many birds fly into the swamp in the evening to roost, or sleep, over the alligators. Among these are Black and Yellow Crowned Night Herons, White Ibis, and Roseate Spoonbills. Once the weather starts warming up, the roosting birds migrate to their preferred nesting habitat and the rookery birds begin to gather. The large live oaks on the North and East side of the swamp are the favored nesting sites and are usually the first to be occupied. It is generally the Great Egrets that arrive first and begin their courtship. The lower elderberry bushes along the peninsula are usually left for the later arrivals, the Snowy Egrets, Tri-colored Herons, Little Blue Herons, and Cattle Egrets. The tops of the oaks are favored by the Wood Storks. The Green Herons choose nesting spots deep within the trees of the swamp or elsewhere on the farm.

Once a suitable nest site has been selected, or fought for, the males will begin advertising for a mate. For all of the rookery species, courtship begins with a male displaying for a female. Some of the typical displays you may see are the stretch display, bill clapping, and snap displays. These behaviors are meant to show off the elaborate breeding plumage both sexes have developed for the season. Once a female has accepted, he will fly off to forage for nesting material. The female remains at the site and constructs the nest with twigs brought to her by the male. The pair will often display then copulate after the male returns with each twig. Depending on the species, three to five eggs are laid and incubated by both sexes, with the female as the prime incubator. After about three weeks, the chicks hatch. Usually the last chick to hatch is smaller and weaker than its siblings and is killed or pushed out of the nest by the older chicks. The alligators do get a small reward for their protection. While they are small, one parent will stay to shade and protect the chicks while the other parent is hunting for food. They eat mainly fish, but also frogs, crayfish, crabs, lizards, insects, fruit, and seeds. A number of hunting methods are used such as foot stirring, foot raking, bill vibrating, and canopy feeding. As the nestlings develop, both parents will leave during the day to bring food back for the young. At four to five weeks of age, the fledglings begin to venture from the nest, but are still fed by the parents. Usually at six weeks they are on their own but most species do not get their true adult plumage until over a year later.

Now you can enjoy a live view of our rookery with our brand new NestCam!

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