Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus

Night Heron with Scarlet Ibis

I photographed this Black-crowned Night Heron (forefront) in Barbados. That is a Scarlet Ibis behind, which I wrote concerning in February: Scarlet Ibis

Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) cause me to think of black tuxedoed butlers, a bit on the hefty side. Their dangling feathers, with a hint of black on tail ends, remind me of a butler’s coattails. The eyes speak inquisitively “How can I serve you.” I can picture him easily with black hair with that black top. If you don’t see it, don’t worry.

My husband and I enjoyed the isle of Barbados and its teeming wildlife—from Green Monkeys to wingers. The avifauna displays itself in living vibrant color.
These distinguished avis’ are most interesting, as they are nocturnal feeders—they work the graveyard shift. They are not often viewed by people, being daylight inactive. They implement their large red eyes; so equipped by God for the darkened hours. This Heron possess the ability to gaze in a large range of light levels, including daylight. Scientists cannot explain this versatile vision. We simply have to stand in awe concerning Christ at all times! In the beginning, He never needed a designing board—He simply created.

Now, we all know cats are equipped to be night creatures with nocturnal vision. We don’t have to turn on the light for them. It is interesting to note other avis’ who are also optically outfitted in such a manner:

• Ruffed Grouse
• Snipes
• Rails
• Whippoorwill
• Barn Owl
• Western Screech Owl
• Great Horned Owl
• Long-eared Owl
• Northern Saw-whet Owl
• Common Nighthawk

This flying black-capped night stalker populates areas around the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. This specie nests in colonies atop platforms of sticks in wooded areas, or on the ground on island locations. Night Herons that dwell far north of the tropics, migrate south in winter months. Being a snowbird, it winters in southern half of U.S. and Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. It prefers habitats with swamps, streams, rivers, marshes, and mud flats. This distinguished avis also enjoys edges of lakes that have become overgrown with rushes and cattails.

Like all Herons, the Night Heron is a patient hunter. We can certainly learn from this handsome fisherman who is never in a hurry, always exercising patience. It will often stand stately like a statue, waiting for a frog or other small animals to pass by. Via their remarkable construction, they can hunt by vibrating their bills in the water to lure prey into investigating the disturbance. No, Herons are not known for lacking sense. They partake of fish, crustaceans, frogs and small mammals.

This video sets you before a Night Heron who is catching a large fish—amazing:

Male Night Herons use their pre-made nests to attract that special female. Now, how does this male Heron know he must construct a nest and obtain a mate? This assembled wisdom has been set in their brain. The LORD God has placed everything involving mating and procreation within His creation.

(Noah) Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth. (Genesis 8:17)

When the male decides it time to go courting, he does not get “cold feet;” he gets “red feet.” Once he has met his match, his legs turn to a blushing pink. Quite interesting! Suitors also perform a mating display to attract females (It is interesting to note that it is generally the male who is the suitor in the human realm as well). This consists of males performing a snap-hiss display. During the snap display the male walks around in a crouched position, head lowered, snapping his jaws together or grasping a twig and shaking it—like a Spanish dancer with rose in mouth. If the female comes to his nest site, there is union.

These blacktopped Herons nest in colonies with other Herons or with other birds like Ibises. They enjoy the company of other wingers as seen by the photo. (I find it most interesting that they are community-minded. I have always noted that the Blue Heron is a loner in every sense of the word. You never see it with another Heron or other avis unless mating.)

The female lays three to five pale blue eggs. The clutch is incubated for 24 to 26 days with both parents sharing in the responsibility. The newly hatched young are fed by regurgitation. Around 3 weeks after hatching, the young climb out of the nest and explore nearby branches. They fledge around 6 weeks of age and acquire adult plumage in a year. They generally bred in two years.
Verses concerning nesting and gathering food:

If a bird’s nest chance to be before you in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the mother sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the mother with the young. But thou shall let the mother go, when you take the young; that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days.” (Deuteronomy 22:6-7)

God goes care about birds as seen in these verses given in command to the Jews. He instructs the person gathering eggs or the young, that they must not to harm the mother bird so they can live long on the earth.
Summation description:

• Size: (2 feet tall)
• Wingspan: (45-46 in)
• Weight: (25 ounces approximately)
• Medium-sized, stocky heron
• Short neck and thick black bill
• Black cap and back
• Wings gray
• Underparts white
• Long, thin, white plumes coming out of rear of cap
• Relatively short, yellowish green or pink legs
• Red eyes

•Info gathered from various web sources

Letter to the Bird Enthusiast!

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