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Black-crowned Night Heron at Sunset


Black-crowned Night Heron at Sunset
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3059 W: 231 N: 6128] (20966)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-10-20 2:46
Viewed: 722
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
Nycticorax nycticorax

You can see a picture of a juvenile here.

Description
The Black-crowned Night-Heron is a rather stocky heron. It looks as if it is hunched over with its head usually tucked down into its shoulders. Its plumage is gray and white with a distinctive black cap and a pair of white plumes that extend from the back of the head. During the breeding season, the black feathers from the head and back emit a bluish-green gloss and the legs become red.

Life History
This bird is a nocturnal and noisy heron. While "day" herons and egrets are roosting during the night, the Black-crowned Night-Heron is up feeding on fish, frogs, crustaceans, small mammals and even the young of other colonial-nesting waterbirds. Their digestive acids are so strong that bones that are consumed simply dissolve in their stomachs.

They usually nest colonially among reeds in marshes, or up to 160 feet above the ground in trees. Their nests are seemingly haphazard piles of reeds, sticks or twigs that may, over the years, become very bulky.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron lays three to four bluish-green eggs between February and March and again between June and July. Both parents incubate and, after a period of 24 to 26 days per egg, the downy young will hatch. Both parents feed the nestlings by regurgitation and six to seven weeks later the young will leave the nest.

This heron migrates in large flocks almost exclusively at night, resting during the daylight hours. Their spring migration generally occurs from mid-February through mid-May. Fall migration occurs from mid-July through October.

Habitat and Distribution
The Black-crowned Night-Heron is widely distributed throughout North America, South America, Eurasia and Africa. They are common winter and breeding residents of much of the Texas Gulf Coast. They also may be found sporadically along the Rio Grande and over northern and interior eastern portions of the state.

Although they frequent wooded swamps, ponds, lakes and tropical mangroves, they have also been found to take advantage of rice fields and other diverse habitats. They keep close to water and vegetation such as reeds, trees and mangroves where they roost and take cover.

Source
scottevers7, ddg, Luc, TAZ, wallhalla15, red45, Demetrio, liquidsunshine, chouette has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2005-10-20 3:06]

Manyee bonjour, very nice shot. This Heron with red eye, inside greenness and flowers is superbe. Very well done . Congratulations Didier.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-10-20 3:40]

What a beautiful and interesting bird that you have well captured. The environment is nice. Its red eye catchs our attention ;-) Congratulations Manyee and thanks for sharing with us.

Another excellent shot Manyee. Composition and colours are great and a very informative note. TFS.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2703 W: 74 N: 8857] (30219)
  • [2005-10-20 4:41]

Great photo Manyee. Lovely bird, I like its pose and bright eye. Composition with blue sky is perfect idea.

Hi Manyee,
Excellent shot here. The colors and detail are great. The light is fantastic in this shot. I love the blue sky at the top. Great Job!
Scott

Very good close up, welldone.

Demetrio

Nice capture Manyee,
Good sharp and clear detail. The colours are nice and the exposure is good. Good notes.
Great shot. Thanks for posting, have a great weekend

Great capture of this heron Manyee! Good composition, nice colors and details. TFS!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-10-23 0:10]

Personal assessment of the photo: very good.
Power of evocation in me: very strong, of course ;-)
Strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you again Manyee.

That sharp red eye is about to burn a hole in my head Manyee! The lighting is perfect allowing nice textures. Excellent depth of field and positioning! Informative note!

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