(Order, HERODIONES)
While none of the order =Herodiones=, which includes the storks,
herons, ibises and bitterns, can be considered game birds, they are so
common about our waters, and some of them add such a charm to the
scene by their beautiful plumage and graceful movement, that mention
of some of them here will not be out of place.
The great blue heron (=Ardea herodias=) is the most common of these
waders. With his long, gracefully curved neck and slender legs he
wades with stately mien along the shallow waters of the lakes,
marshes and streams, both summer and winter, for he is to the manner
born and has no desire to seek other lands or other climes. The herons
are said to be destructive to fish. This can be to a limited extent
only, for they subsist very largely on the enemies of the fish,
destroying hundreds of snakes, water lizards and other fish
destroyers.
The snowy heron, or white crane as it is commonly called (=Ardea
candidissima=), is another handsome wader that lends a charm to the
lakes, ponds and streams from Oregon south through Mexico. Built on
the same graceful lines as its blue relative, and with a plumage as
white as the purest snow, it never fails to attract attention.
Three representatives of the family =Ibididae= are found here and
present a pleasing and interesting group.
The white-faced glossy ibis (=Plegadis guarauna=) ranges over the
larger portion of the Coast, but from Lower California north only for
breeding purposes. Its long curved bill, slim, gracefully bent neck,
shapely body, tall legs and irridescent reflections of its plumage in
the sunlight, place it among the most attractive of North American
birds. Unlike the herons they are gregarious and are, therefore, seen
in flocks of varying size. The glossy ibis is often called bronze
curlew, but this is a bad misnomer, as they are in no way related to
the curlew.
Another of the family is the white ibis (=Guara alba=). These are
quite common in Lower California and Mexico. They rarely migrate into
California, though they venture much to the north of us in a
northeastern direction, reaching the shores of the Great Salt Lake,
during the breeding season. The scarlet ibis (=Guara rubra=), the
other member of the family, is confined to Mexico, so far as these
articles are concerned.
The American egret (=Ardea egretta=) ranges from Oregon south to South
America. It was at one time quite plentiful in California, but its
handsome plumes attracted the eye of the milliner, which in turn
aroused the cupidity of the market hunter, and these beautiful birds
are now rare north of Lower California and Mexico, and are rapidly
decreasing even there. The reddish egret (=Ardea rufescens=) is an
inhabitant of Lower California and Mexico, not coming north of these
places. Though not as handsome as the white egret, it is also being
exterminated for the same purposes.
The birds that I have so far mentioned, while not game birds, are so
constantly before the eyes of the sportsmen who engage in waterfowl
shooting that they can not help but be interested in them. They add a
variety and a beauty to the scene, and many an hour's wait, that
otherwise would have been tedious, has passed away pleasantly in
watching the graceful movements of some one or more of these stately
waders.