The Unusual Flight of White Herons in 1902 



BY WILLIAM B. EVANS 



During the late summer months and early fall of the present 

 year (1902), in southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jer- 

 sey and parts of Delaware and Maryland, an unusual number 

 of White Herons have been seen, at points near the coast and 

 inland along the tide and fresh water courses. At least two 

 species were represented in this northerly movement which 

 seems to follow the nesting season, the American Egret (Ardea 

 egretta), and the Little Blue Heron {Ardea cce>-ulea). The latter, 

 although dark blue in the adult plumage, is an almost pure 

 white during its first summer. This bird was unusually 

 numerous, and to it, probably, most of the white heron records 

 refer. A third species, the Snowy Heron {Ardea candidissima) , 

 has also been reported, but as just stated, in most cases these 

 records probably refer to the Little Blue Heron, the two birds 

 being of nearly the same dimensions. 



As the appearance of any of these birds in the Delaware Val- 

 le}' region is now considered worthy of notice in ornithological 

 annals, it has been thought worth while to endeavor to collect 

 as much information as possible concerning them, and for the 

 following records I am indebted to many observers both within 

 and without the pale of D. V. 0. C. membership. 



A brief summary of the distinguishing characters of size and 

 post-nuptial jjlumage of these herons, condensed from Chap- 

 man's "Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America," may 

 here be given a place, since the three are undoubtedly often 

 confused. 



The American Egret {Ardea egretta) which now breeds as far 

 north as Virginia, measures forty-one inches from the tip of 

 beak to the end of tail. The entire plumage is white; legs and 

 feet black; bill yellow. 



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