Great Blue Heron Chicks on Danzante Island: Loreto Bay’s living classroom
Chicks, Great Blue Heron in Loreto Bay National Park, July 2025” by Regina Domingo
Loreto Bay National Park, with its sparkling waters and sunlit volcanic islands, is more than a marine sanctuary, it’s a thriving classroom, a birding paradise where nature’s quiet stories unfold for any who care to look. Recently, thanks to a report from our friend and community member Juanita (Jennifer Layton), the Baja Adventures team learned of a special event unfolding on Danzante Island: a nest of great blue heron chicks carving their place in the wild tapestry of Loreto Bay.
Danzante Island: A Natural wonder in Loreto Bay National Park
Danzante Island is a crown jewel among Loreto Bay National Park’s five volcanic islands. Though less than four square kilometers, its dramatic cliffs, secretive coves, and inviting beaches make it a haven:
Wildlife refuge: Pristine, isolated habitat ideal for birds and marine life, far from mainland disturbances.
Bird sanctuary: Home to blue-footed boobies, ospreys, pelicans, and now, american oyster catcher the stately great blue herons nurturing new generations.
Stunning geology: Towering cliffs, rock formations, and sun-washed landscapes ideal for nesting and roosting.
Established in 1996 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Loreto Bay National Park protects over 206,000 hectares of marine and island ecosystems, supporting more than 800 fish species, 35 marine mammals, and nearly 40 kinds of seabirds.
Blue Heron in Loreto Bay National Park, by Regina Domingo
The life story of Great Blue Herons in Loreto
Great blue herons (Ardea herodias), the tallest heron species in the Americas, return every year to safe, undisturbed places like Danzante Island to breed.
Danzante island in Loreto Bay National Park.
Nesting: They weave large stick nests high in trees or secure on rocky ledges, sheltered from predators and human contact.
Eggs & Chicks: Each pair lays several pale blue eggs, which are incubated for about 28 days. Both parents share feeding duties, regurgitating fish and other aquatic creatures to their hungry, chattering chicks.
Learning to Fly: In just under two months, the heron chicks begin testing their wings—first fluttering hesitantly, then, emboldened by Loreto’s warm breezes and safe skies, they take unsteady first flights over the sea.
Diet: Herons hunt with patience along Loreto’s lagoons and beaches, catching fish (their favorite), frogs, crustaceans, insects, and even small mammals.
Chicks, Great Blue Heron in Loreto Bay National Park, July 2025” by Regina Domingo
Ecological importance and magic of Loreto
Great blue herons are ecological indicators; their nesting success and numbers speak to the overall health of wetland and marine habitats. As apex predators in their aquatic world, they keep food webs in balance and reflect changes in water quality or prey abundance.
Witnessing these chicks grow on Danzante Island is more than a spectacle, it's a vivid illustration of successful conservation and the fragile beauty sustained by protected places like Loreto Bay. Every fledgling heron represents a triumph for biodiversity, a product of patient stewardship and the park’s continued sanctuary for wildlife.
Loreto: A Birdwatcher’s paradise and endless lesson
Great Blue Heron in Loreto Bay National by Regina Domingo
With over 400 bird species, Loreto Bay is a treasure trove for naturalists. Whether sighting great blue heron chicks practicing their first flights or marveling at endemic hummingbirds and rare seabirds, each day offers a new chapter in nature’s school.
Pack your binoculars and a sense of wonder:
On Danzante Island, and throughout Loreto Bay, nature’s lessons soar on blue wings—and the marvels you witness are reminders of the wild stories still unfolding, preserved for all who value and protect them.
Great Blue Heron flying in Loreto Bay National Park, July 2025” by Regina Domingo
Join our regenerative tourism expeditions
Be part of something bigger than adventure. On our regenerative tourism expeditions, we don’t just observe—we engage, learn, and help conserve this extraordinary place. Each journey is:
An education: Participants gain firsthand knowledge of local ecosystems, species, and the real threats they face.
A community: Together, we create a network of travelers and locals committed to making a positive impact through responsible tourism and citizen science.
A lasting difference: Your involvement helps collect data, support conservation, and ensure that magical sights like heron chicks on Danzante continue for generations.
Special gratitude to Juanita (Jennifer Layton) for her keen observations and conservation spirit that help us share and safeguard the wonders of Loreto Bay.
Come discover, learn, and nurture the wild wonders of Loreto Bay with us. Every visit helps write a brighter future for these islands, their birds, and all who call them home.