[Umpqua Birds] Re: Black-crowned Night-Herons, Melrose
- From: Matthew G Hunter <matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: umpquabirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 20 May 2014 23:55:52 -0700
Thanks Liz. When trying to understand the status of Black-crowned
Night-Herons here in the Umpqua Valleys (e.g. whether they nest here), it
is this May-June period that becomes crucial. For many years we have had
records of BCNHs from about mid-July through fall and winter and into early
spring (mid-April). The mid- to late summer birds have been assumed to be
recent dispersants from elsewhere (other herons/egrets begin dispersing at
that time as well), and there have been fall/winter roosts located various
places over the years, usually along one of the rivers (including a roost
in the neighborhoods out at the end of Troost that has moved around to
different locations there). But for the May-June period, when most
incubating and young-raising happens at their eastern-Oregon colonies, I am
only aware of a handful of records here in the Umpqua Basin and I have
never heard of a nest. In fact, as far as I know nesting has not been
documented in western Oregon in over 100 years, so it would be a
significant occurrence and important to document. I have suspected and
think they could nest here along the Umpqua Rivers somewhere, but I have
not yet made an effort to look specifically, and I do not know anyone who
has. A night float on the South Umpqua could be revealing, but I haven't
tried that yet. If you have any definite records for May or June, it would
be great to learn more specifics. And if any of your friends have them in
their yards right now, that would be good information too!
Matt
On Tue, May 20, 2014 at 10:43 PM, Elizabeth Gayner <egayner@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> Matt,
>
> FYI- i have observed Black-crowned night herons annually on the river
> side near the end of Troost. I would see/hear them there spring/summer
> every year (had friends that lived in that area) starting in 1999... I
> can't remember if I saw/heard them in winter since we're usually indoors
> that time of year when visiting. If my memory serves me right, my friends
> said they would often roost in the trees in their yard. However, they were
> most often seeing coming from across the street from the river area behind
> some houses.
>
> Liz
>
>
> On Monday, May 19, 2014, Matthew G Hunter <matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
>> HI Folks,
>> This morning after breakfast I took a short walk outside just to do a
>> 5-minute count, see what's around, and then get on with my day. With
>> intentions for just a quick stroll I did not take either my binoculars
>> (much of my birding is by ear) or my camera.
>>
>> A couple minutes into my wandering I heard a distant call 3 or 4 times
>> that sounded like a Black-crowned Night-Heron--they have a distinctive
>> "aouw" or "ouwk" sound--but it seemed improbable and I am over 3/4 mile
>> from a river and I've never had them here at the house... and...and....
>> So, I finally stopped and listened intently. My breakfast grumbled and made
>> an "ow" sound in my tummy and I said to myself, ... that's what it was. So
>> I started walking again, and then I heard the sound louder, twice, and it
>> still sounded like a Black-crowned Night-Heron, and right then I saw two
>> Night-Herons on the very top of a cedar tree about 200 ft north of me next
>> to the neighbor's driveway, large and blocky compared to a Green Heron. One
>> heron took off flying to the east, calling, and the other stood there
>> perched on top of the tree for another 15 seconds or so, then took off
>> following the same path as the other bird to the east. They called until
>> they were out of sight. I was in the process of kicking myself for not
>> having my camera (I could have gotten some identifiable photos in the tree
>> and in flight), when I heard one calling again, this time to the southeast
>> of me and coming west. This could have been one of the same birds that
>> circled around and came back farther south, I don't know. This bird landed
>> in the tip top of a very large and tall Ponderosa Pine, calling, so I
>> dashed in the house for my camera, but by the time I came out it had
>> launched off to the west. I waited around for a while, but did not see or
>> hear them any more.
>>
>>
>> There are only a few May records of Black-crowned Night-Herons for
>> Douglas County that I'm aware of, and I'm not sure if there are any this
>> late. The behavior of these birds--calling and landing in the tops of
>> trees, going west, then going east--makes me wonder... What in the world
>> were they doing? What is their breeding status? Are they migrants? Are they
>> nesting nearby? In an average year in eastern Oregon this would be an
>> egg-laying or nestling period. Were they perhaps nesting nearby and
>> something disturbed them? Were they non-breeders "summering" locally,
>> getting restless?
>>
>>
>> I have always wondered if they actually nest somewhere in the county, but
>> the question remains to be answered. If anyone has any insight on the
>> status of these birds based on their behavior, timing, or anything else,
>> I'd be interested to hear. Thanks!
>>
>>
>> "Ouwk,"
>>
>>
>> Matt Hunter
>>
>> Melrose, OR
>>
>
Other related posts:
