"The Nest" is a watercolor painting of a female and male Blue Heron building their nest for their family. I was fortunate to take the reference photo used for the painting and it was taken in the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida. 

I spent about 45 minutes photographing this pair. The male Blue Heron would fly off to find branches and other matter. When he returned, the female would take what he found - beak from beak - and arrange the matter to build the nest.

It was true partnership and I felt blessed to witness such a ritual.