HERONS, EGRETS, AND BITTERNS: Family Ardeidae [ 1 1 3 ] 



nests, but the numbers have greatly diminished in recent years. In addi- 

 tion to these well-known rookeries, there is a thriving colony a few miles 

 from Baker in a dense willow thicket. The writers together visited it 

 first on May 2.5, 192.4, and found about 100 pairs of birds nesting. There 

 are doubtless other small groups nesting in eastern Oregon that have not 

 been located, due to the comparatively small amount of intensive field 

 work in that area. 



The nests, when built in trees, are more or less loosely constructed plat- 

 forms of sticks, whereas those in the great marshes are composed of sticks 

 or tule stalks and are sometimes built on the water and anchored to living 

 tules. The nesting behavior, including feeding of the young, is quite 

 similar to that practiced by other herons. Available notes show egg dates 

 extending from April n to May 2.8. 



The Black-crowned Night Heron is a shorter and more heavily built 

 bird than any other species in Oregon in this group. The adults, with 

 the long white crest plumes contrasted against the black crown and back, 

 cannot be confused with any other Oregon bird. The striped and spotted 

 young are sometimes confused with the American Bittern, but are easily 

 distinguished by the following differences: They are much more heavily 

 built than the bitterns; the general color tone is gray brown, quite differ- 

 ent from the bright-brown, buff, and black pattern of the bittern; and the 

 backs of the young are spotted with buff on a dusky-gray background, 

 whereas the bittern has no such markings in any plumage. 



American Bittern: 



Botaurus lentiginosus (Montagu) 



DESCRIPTION. "Sexes alike, except for white or buffy nuptial ruffs on sides of breast 

 of adult male in breeding season; feathers lax and coarse; upper parts broadly striped 

 with dusky on buff; crown and streak along jaw blackish; throat and under parts 

 creamy buff, striped with brown. Young similar to adults. Length: 14-34, wing 

 9.80-11.00, bill 1.50-3.10, tarsus 3.10-3.85." (Bailey) Nest: On the ground, 

 usually near the water, a trampled flat mass of grass, weeds, or rubbish. Eggs: 3 to 

 7, buff to buffy brown. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from central British Columbia, northern Manitoba, 

 southern Ungava, and Newfoundland south to southern California, central Arizona, 

 Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Ohio Valley, and southern New Jersey. Winters south to 

 West Indies and Panama. In Oregon: Common summer resident in eastern Oregon 

 from April to October. Less common in western Oregon but found in Willamette 

 Valley (Multnomah, Washington, Marion, Lane, and Polk Counties), in south- 

 western Oregon (Jackson County), and on coast (Coos, Lane, Tillamook, and 

 Lincoln Counties, and probably others). Casual winter resident in Klamath and 

 Harney Counties. 



THE AMERICAN BITTERN is easily recognized by its brown, buff, and black 

 plumage, green legs, and medium size. Its weird love song is responsible 

 for many vernacular names applied to it, as "Thunder Pumper" and 



