Great egrets have increased at nine colonies in the Chesapeake Bay and 

 increased greatly at the major Chincoteague Bay colony on the Atlantic coast 

 in the past year (MOS, BNWR, M. Byrd unpubl. notes). Snowy egrets also have 

 shown marked population gain in both coastal areas during the 1960's and the 

 early 1970' s (MOS, BNWR). They continue to expand at seven Chesapeake Bay 

 colony sites (M. Byrd unpubl. notes). After their initial nesting in the late 

 1950's and early 1960's (Valentine 1958, Miller 1959, MOS), cattle egrets have 

 increased both along the Chesapeake and Atlantic coasts (one colony only). 

 Along the Chesapeake Bay, the number of colonies also has increased from two 

 in 1975 (Custer and Osborn 1976) to five in 1977 (M. Byrd unpubl. notes). 



In the past 2 years, little blue herons have declined in the Bay from six 

 colonies in 1975 to only one in 1977 (M. Byrd unpubl. notes). Also, only one 

 Atlantic coast colony was active in 1977. Louisiana herons increased 

 dramatically from the early 1960's to 1975 in both coastal regions (MOS, MB, 

 AFN). Atlantic coast colonies declined from 1975 to 1977. 



Black-crowned night heron numbers have been stable along the coast for 

 the past 20 years and have increased from one to three colonies (Sprunt et al. 

 1976, MOS, AFN). In the Bay, there may have been an increase, but earlier 

 records were incomplete prior to 1977. Also, reports of "total" numbers are 

 usually underestimates. Yellow-crowned night herons nest commonly along the 

 Chesapeake Bay (MB) but seldom are reported along the coast. 



78 



