The Green Heron 
263 
colonies of nesting herons and ibises in the southern swamps, and among 
the hundreds or often thousands of birds collected there you will find now 
and then a nest of the modest little Green Heron, occupying some incon- 
spicuous spot in one of the willow-trees or cypresses. 
Every bird in the world, as probably every other wild creature, has 
its natural enemies. Something is ever on the alert to prey upon it. 
Every sparrow, wren, warbler, thrush, hawk, and even the resourceful 
and powerful eagle, must keep a sharp lookout that 
some foe does not catch it or destroy its eggs and NecersTry 
young. The Green Heron is no exception to this rule. 
Foxes, also minks and weasels, possibly catch this bird now and then. 
The nesting-season, however, must be the period of greatest anxiety 
for this bird and for all others. Although the cradle for the eggs is 
always well hidden in the rushes or among the foliage of bushes and 
trees, it is, nevertheless, often discovered by sharp-eyed wild hunters 
when out in search of good things to eat. Crows, which know so well 
how to look out for their own interests, every year steal Green Herons’ 
eggs from the nests. The Eish Crow, which is slightly smaller than the 
Crow that is commonly seen, and is particularly numerous along the 
seacoast, and also haunts the neighborhood of large inland ponds, lakes 
and rivers, is a wonderfully successful egg-hunter. When one of these 
robbers goes out for an omelet, it flies across the country or slips through 
the trees in a most crafty and silent manner. Einding a Heron’s nest, 
it will cunningly withdraw, and return at a time when the parent-bird 
is temporarily away, taking a rest or looking for food. Then comes the 
Crow. With a strong, plunging stroke it will drive its bill into an egg, 
and fly off with it without a sound. Often it will 
alight on the limb of some tree near by and proceed at 
once to enjoy its repast, but sometimes will fly a long 
distance with its booty before stopping to devour it in seclusion. 
Once I saw a plucky Kingbird attack a Crow which was carrying 
on its bill a Green Heron’s egg. The fierce little black fighter boldly 
attacked the marauder, which was many times its size, and drove it for 
fully a quarter of a mile. The Crow flew with all its power in its efforts 
to get away from its tormentor. The Kingbird followed fast, and fre- 
quently ranging above it would dart down at the head and back of the 
Crow. In desperation, the egg-hunter finally dropped its load, and at 
length escaped to the friendly shelter of a thick pine tree. The egg 
chanced to fall into a pool of water, and I picked it up unbroken. In 
one side was a hole about the size of the end of a man’s finger. This 
had been made by the bill of the feathered robber. 
When the Green Heron builds its nest in bushes 
growing over or near the surface of a pond or lake 
there is always danger from water-moccasins, which are very fond of 
birds’ eggs. 
It is a well-understood fact that many more of these interesting 
birds would be seen if they were not so constantly persecuted by their 
Crafty 
Crows 
Danger from 
Snakes 
