BIRDS OF NEW YORK 



263 



breeds in every county, excepting Franklin and Hamilton, and may yet be 

 found in the lower portions of these counties. In the southeastern portion 

 of the State it arrives from the south from the 6th to the 20th of April; 

 in the western portions from the 25th of April to the 5th of May. Its time 

 of departure in the fall seems 

 to vary greatly according to dif- 

 ferent observers. I have found 

 it in western New York to be 

 from the 5 th to the 15 th of 

 October and Dr Fisher in West- 

 chester county from the 2d to 

 the 20th of October. Others 

 give it as early in September. 



The Green heron, Fly-up- 

 the-creek, Shitepoke or Chalk- 

 line, is perhaps the most famil- 

 iar member of this family in 

 most parts of New York, as it is 

 found along the small streams 

 and ponds, as well as the larger 

 swamps and lakes. Its food is 

 principally frogs, minnows and 

 crawfish. The voice of this 

 little heron is shriller and les;; 

 hoarse than those of the other 

 herons, a somewhat guttural 

 qua-qua. It is more easily ob- 

 served on accotmt of its diurnal habits and like the Kingfisher and Spotted 

 sandpiper is the interesting companion of many a canoe trip on our New 

 York rivers. They breed singly or in small colonies, the nest being placed 

 in an alder, willow or thorn tree not far from the creek and usually about 1 5 

 feet from the ground. It is a slovenly structure of small sticks and is con- 



Photo by L. S. Horton 



Green heron's nest and cgj^s 



