Last week, the Black-crowned night herons made their well awaited return.

Black-crowned night heron - 2014 first arrivalBlack-crowned night heron

Every year the Black-crowned night herons attract much of the attention from curious visitors to well seasoned residents who are used to seeing them year after year, in action, fishing. The footbridge of the old mill, as well as the Bistro’s terrace, give visitors front row seating to these birds in action. The Old Mill`s channels are a choice place for feeding. Black-crowned night herons feast all day (…and night) on passing fish. They actually eat better than paying customers observing them from the bistro’s terrace. These channels also attract the Great Blue Heron and the rarely seen Harlequin Duck that made these channels its fishing grounds last fall.

Steve Troletti Photography: HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS / HÉRONS, AIGRETTES et BUTORS (Ardeidae) &emdash; Black-crowned Night Heron Fishing / Bihoreau gris à la pêcheBlack-crowned night heron fishing

Soon we’ll find them on the banks of the Montreal Back River (Rivière-des-prairies) along the Ile-de-la-Visitation Nature Park, especially at the east end of the park. A large number of Black-crowned night herons hang out in front of the Hydro electric plant all summer long. For now, the water level remains too high and the rocks that serve as fishing perches for the Black-crowned night herons remain submerged.

Steve Troletti Photography: HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS / HÉRONS, AIGRETTES et BUTORS (Ardeidae) &emdash; Black-crowned Night Heron in Flight at Sunset / Bihoreau gris en vol au crépusculeBlack-crowned night heron in flight

The nesting Herons will soon leave the area. They will come back later in the season with a new wave of young juvenile Black-crowned night herons.

Juvenile Black-crowned night heronJuvenile Black-crowned night heron

 

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