BIRDS OF COLORADO. 6l 



191. Ardetta exilis. IvEast Bittern. 



Summer visitant; rare. The only record for Colorado is a 

 stuffed specimen now at Colorado Springs that was killed in 

 the immediate vicinity. It is a little strange that no more is 

 known of this bird in Colorado. It is a common bird in Kan- 

 sas and extends clear across to the Pacific Ocean, though less 

 common west of the Rocky Mountains. Under these condi- 

 tions it must be more common in Colorado than its record 

 would indicate. 



194. Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. 



Summer resident, not uncommon ; in migration, common. 

 Occurs throughout the lower portions of the State seldom going 

 rnuch above 5,000 feet, but a few find their way into the mount- 

 ain parks. Around Fort Collins it is a rather common breeder, 

 all the nests being placed on the tops of the tallest cottonwoods 

 on the banks of the Cache I^a Poudre. In other parts of the 

 State it sometimes selects more lowly nesting sites. Arrives in 

 northern Colorado early in April. 



197. Ardea candidissima. Snowy Heron. 



Summer visitant ; rare ; not known to breed. At least 

 seven specimens have been secured in Colorado and several 

 others reported, representing both sides of the range, but all 

 from the lower portions, not above 5,000 feet. 



198. 'Ardea rufescens. Reddish Egret. 



Summer visitant ; rare or accidental ; not known to breed. 

 In the collection of C. E. Aiken, of Colorado Springs, there is 

 a young bird of this species shot near that city. The bird is 

 not young enough to indicate that it was hatched in the vicin- 

 ity, but probably wandered north in the fall after having been 

 reared much farther south. This is the only record for Colo- 

 rado. 



202. Nycticorax nycticorax nasvius. Black-crowned 



Night Heron. 



Summer resident ; not common and local ; in migration, 

 not uncommon. Since it occurs through most of the United 

 States, this Heron probably will be found west of the range, 

 but at present all of the records refer to the plains country east 

 of the Rockies and not above 5,500 feet. It breeds throughout 

 its range. There is a heronry of this species a few miles from 

 Fort Collins. Six years ago it consisted of about fifty pairs; 

 now it is reduced to about half that number. The nests are 

 close together occupying less than, half an acre on an island in 

 the Cache I^a Poudre River. The eggs are laid about the first 

 of June, the birds arriving the middle of April. 



