54 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 



This bird is looking for fish and advances very carefully. 

 When it has seen its victim, it moves its head slowly until within 

 striking distance, then suddenly plunges it into the water. If 

 a small fish or frog is gotten, it is swallowed at once. A larger 

 one is carried to solid ground and pulled into pieces. 



Heron, Green (Butorides virescens virescens) 



Other names are fly-up-the-creek and shitepoke. It is the most 

 familiar heron in most parts of New York. It is found along 

 small streams and ponds as well as larger lakes and swamps. 



15.5-22 



Call no. 



Nu HeH Adult on Branch near Nest; Nest with Egg and Young. 

 (June IS, 1914) Allen 



Like the bittern, the heron often draws the neck back so it 

 appears shorter than it actually is. Note bill, legs and toes. 



Nu HeH2 Nest with Five Eggs. Meridian Tabor 



The nest is a slovenly made structure of sticks, so loose that 

 the eggs may sometimes be seen through the bottom. 



Nu HeH3 Adult Incubating. Michigan hollow, near Ithaca. (June 

 IS, 1914) Allen 



This bird seldom nests in colonies like the great blue heron 

 but usually singly in low trees and sometimes in bushes over 

 the water. Observe of what coarse material and how carelessly 

 the nest is put together. 



Nu HeH4 Three Young Birds in Nest. Meridian Tabor 



They have not learned fear. 



Nu HeH5 Three Young Birds Taken from the Nest. (1899) 



Notice the tendency of these birds to point their necks straight 

 up. This is a characteristic of them whenever they are frightened. 



Nu HeH6 Young Bird Swimming among Reeds. Michigan hollow, 

 near Ithaca. (July 4, 1913) Allen 



The bird is not precocial but is swimming freely, although still 

 in down and quill feathers. Although altricial, young herons 

 gain their strength more quickly than their feathers and climb 

 from the nest long before they fly. 



