herons update

Peter Webb (pwebb@bcpl.net)
Tue, 04 May 1999 07:03:09 -0700 

Herons update, May 3, 1999

Yellow-crowned Night-herons are nesting for their
third season over my suburban house.

1999 events:
Thu Apr  1: ONE bird shows up at nest; no mate.
Mon Apr  5: TWO birds seen, interacting, second driven off?
Fri Apr  9: TWO birds AT NEST. PAIR.
Mon Apr 12: FOUR birds: two at nest, one across street, 4th flew by.
Thu Apr 15: FIVE birds seen; three near nest and two more next door.
            Usually seeing three: two at nest, third nearby.
Thu Apr 22: First egg laid. Incubation part time. Still three adults.
Mon May  3: Gradual change: usually now just one bird incubating, three
            seen usually about 7:30 am and pm. Often one bird incubating,
            while other two "woop" display at each other.

As has been true last couple of years, the nest is in a west facing
branch in a large oak over my house; lighting is consequently
best after noon, and with the activity peaking about 7:30 pm, that
is the best time to see the birds. I expect the eggs to hatch in
mid-May, with the youngsters hardly visible until they grow larger
and can be seen more often above the nest's rim. For breeding plumage
of the adults, now's the time. Later, the youngsters will be more
visible and cutest when smallest and hardest to see. Departure
will probably be about early to mid August, when the youngsters
will fledge and be off to learn crayfishing from the parents.

"Woop" display: I haven't observed this behavior until this year.
The first year, the two adults arrived in June and the primary
vocalization was a shrieking "cow" call similar to that of
Green Herons. Later in the year and last year, little or no
vocalizations by the adults were heard. This year, with apparent
rivalry with a third adult ("Junior", hatched the first year?),
a new behavior: the displaying bird bows forward toward the object
of the display, extending the head and neck (like Canada Geese do
as a threatening posture), raise the plumes on the back like 
hackles, and emit a coo-like "woop", a soft rising note sounding
a bit like a distant barking dog or a cooing dove, ending abruptly.

Directions to the site: From Baltimore Beltway exit 18, Liberty Road,
"Lochearn" exit, proceed towards the city past pair of traffic
lights, then left at Shell station at third light, Essex Road.
Proceed up the hill, then down the hill to small road on right only,
Lancaster Road. Proceed (right) onto Lancaster, to house associated
with second driveway on the left. Continue past driveway and park
at the mailbox in front, 7014 Lancaster Road (on left, northeast
side of the road). Best views of the nest are from front sidewalk;
nest will be directly above left end of the house, about 40 ft.
above the house. While one can get almost directly below the nest
on the patio/top of the garage, the view from there is straight
up to the bottom of the nest, which is all you can see from there.
An alternate view from slightly higher, up the hill in back, will
be backlit and more distant and still slightly below nest level.
Best viewing time is about 7-8 pm, when the Changing of the Guard
takes place and all three adults can be seen, including the "woop"
displays between the two (females?). Past experience indicates that
more than a 400 lens is needed for adequate close-up photos; with a
400 lens one can get recognizable but still distant pictures.

For arranging for Carolyn or me to be present to host, we can be
reached by phone (Carolyn works at home and is usually present)
or by e-mail.

Pete Webb
7014 Lancaster Rd, Baltimore, MD 21207-4624
(410)-486-1217
pwebb@bcpl.net (home)
pew@niroinc.com (work, 830-5 M-F)