152 The Birds of Albany County 



between Albany and New York I have seen from the car 

 window dozens of them standing motionless in the shallow 

 water on the edge of the river. Even where the track was very 

 close to the water, the Great Blues did not seem to mind the 

 tremendous noise, familiarity evidently having bred indifference 

 in this case. TTie Great Blue Heron breeds in goodly 

 numbers in the northern part of the State, but it can be recorded 

 as a summer resident in Albany County, as only recently nests 

 were found in Voorheesville. The nest is a great, rude 

 platform of sticks placed high in a tree. The eggs are sHghtly 

 larger than those of a barnyard hen and are pale blue. 



Subfamily Botaurinae 



Least Bittern. — Ardeiia exilis. 13.00 



Rare Summer Resident 



Field marks. — Under parts buffy-white; crown, back, and tail 

 glistening black; sides of neck light brovra, back of neck 

 chestnut; light brown patch on wing; dull black patch 

 on either side of breast; heron-like in form. 



This small water-bird breeds sparingly in the cattail marshes 

 of Green Island and Watervliet. It is difficult to observe as 

 it has a way of hiding itself among the reeds on the approach 

 of an enemy. The nest is a platform of reeds, woven among 

 the growing cattails. From three to six very light-blue eggs 

 are laid. 



