What a beautiful creature this is! A mounted specimen requires, like
the Snowy Owl, the greatest care and a dust tight glass case to
preserve its beauty. Dr. Coues' account of it should be read by those
who are interested in the science of ornithology. It is a common bird
in the United States and British Provinces, being migratory and
resident in the south. Heronries, sometimes of vast extent, to which
they return year after year, are their breeding places. Each nest
contains three or four eggs of a pale, sea-green color. Observe the
peculiar plumes, sometimes two, in this case three, which spring from
the back of the head. These usually lie close together in one bundle,
but are often blown apart by the wind in the form of streamers. This
Heron derives its name from its habits, as it is usually seen flying
at night, or in the early evening, when it utters a sonorous cry of
_quaw_ or _quawk_. It is often called Quawk or Qua-Bird.
On the return of the Black-Crowned Night Heron in April, he promptly
takes possession of his former home, which is likely to be the most
solitary and deeply shaded part of a cedar swamp. Groves of swamp oak
in retired and water covered places, are also sometimes chosen, and
the males often select tall trees on the bank of the river to roost
upon during the day. About the beginning of twilight they direct their
flight toward the marshes, uttering in a hoarse and hollow tone, the
sound _qua_. At this hour all the nurseries in the swamps are emptied
of their occupants, who disperse about the marshes along the ditches
and river shore in search of food. Some of these nesting places have
been occupied every spring and summer for many years by nearly a
hundred pair of Herons. In places where the cedars have been cut down
and removed the Herons merely move to another part of the swamp, not
seeming greatly disturbed thereby; but when attacked and plundered
they have been known to remove from an ancient home in a body to some
unknown place.
The Heron's nest is plain enough, being built of sticks. On entering
the swamp in the neighborhood of one of the heronries the noise of the
old and young birds equals that made by a band of Indians in conflict.
The instant an intruder is discovered, the entire flock silently rises
in the air and removes to the tops of the trees in another part of the
woods, while sentries of eight or ten birds make occasional circuits
of inspection.
The young Herons climb to the tops of the highest trees, but do not
attempt to fly. While it is probable these birds do not see well by
day, they possess an exquisite facility of hearing, which renders it
almost impossible to approach their nesting places without discovery.
Hawks hover over the nests, making an occasional sweep among the
young, and the Bald Eagle has been seen to cast a hungry eye upon
them.
The male and female can hardly be distinguished. Both have the plumes,
but there is a slight difference in size.
The food of the Night Heron, or Qua-Bird, is chiefly fish, and his two
interesting traits are tireless watchfulness and great appetite. He
digests his food with such rapidity that however much he may eat, he
is always ready to eat again; hence he is little benefited by what he
does eat, and is ever in appearance in the same half-starved state,
whether food is abundant or scarce.