Found a Sitter!
Black-crowned night herons are all one big happy family when it comes to taking care of the little ones. Parents will look after any chicks that appear in their nest, not just their own. One theory is that the parents can’t tell the difference between their own chicks and those of others.
This habit is especially helpful when a black-crowned night heron couple wants to go to the movies. They simply slide their chicks into the nest next door and it’s off to the theater!
When you look, you see.
So where might you see black-crowned night herons caring for their little ones (or someone else’s little ones)? You’re going to have to find a rookery, but you are in luck! Black-crowned night herons are everywhere. I’ve included a few resources below to help you learn more about black-crowned night herons and where you might find them.
For example, around Copper’s hometown in Charleston, you might see black-crowned night herons taking care of their little ones in the wild at White Point Garden, or maybe the animal forest at Charles Towne Landing. Here is a quick video clip of a juvenile black-crowned night heron I recorded at White Point Garden. This one is much older than the ones still in the nest, but still a juvenile. Black-crowned night herons raise their young at White Point Garden every year!
Is that you, Steve?
Like their parents, you may not be able to tell the difference between two black-crowned night heron chicks either. But there are a whole lot of great resources for you to identify black-crowned night herons and other birds. Below are just a few I think you might enjoy.
Kids, remember to ask a parent, teacher, or librarian for help whenever you are looking for books or using the Internet. I always try to make sure to share kid-friendly books and resources, but websites are changing all the time, so always check with an adult first.
- Check out The Audubon Guide to North American Birds entry for black-crowned night herons which is packed full of great info, photos, sound recordings, and a range map which shows you where you can generally find black-crowned night herons and at what time of year.
- Ask a parent or librarian to help you get a copy of The New Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America or The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America, both written by Bill Thompson III. These books are easy to read with lots of great photos, illustrations, range maps, and interesting facts about all sorts of birds.
- Listen to a sample of the black-crowned night heron’s classic KWAK! call. If you are near any kind of wetland where black-crowned night herons live, you are bound to hear this call in the evening hours. After you get your fill of KWAKs, read even more fascinating details about black-crowned night herons also provided by the University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology. You’ll see a mention there about how black-crowned night herons don’t always recognize their own young and will raise little ones from other nests.