Heron solo resumes in Balt. Co.
Peter Webb (pwebb@bcpl.net)
Wed, 07 Apr 1999 19:26:58 -0700
Wed. Apr. 7, 7 pm
After a day's absence, the one adult plumaged
Yellow-crowned Night-heron has returned to perch
at last year's nest, with no visible partner or
progress in refurbishing the tattered old
fragment of a nest. The bird had been absent all of
yesterday, Tuesday, after being seen briefly in the
early morning, but was back when I left for work
this morning at 8 am and was visible upon my return
at 7 pm this evening.
Last year, two birds showed up Mar. 31 and went on
to raise five young; this year one bird showed up
on Apr. 1; two birds were seen Monday evening but may
have been two of the same gender; after a brief fight
at the nest (won by the origional arrival bird), the
presumed rival perched nearby for about 15 minutes and
then flew away unaccompanied by the nest holding bird.
It was next day that the bird took a day's leave of absence
from the nest area, only to show up 8 am this morning, just
after I had posted a report that the bird may have gone.
Usually the bird has been present from about 740 am to about 6 pm
at the nest, and absent (more often than not) during the night.
This pattern fits the book description of the male's shift at the
nest, with the female getting nest duty during the night.
More reports as more developments occur.
Pete Webb
Baltimore, Md.
pwebb@bcpl.net (home, after 6)
pew@niroinc.com (M-F, 830-5)