By night invasions we boys evaded the law against climbing trees in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. I started shaking the upper branches of a chestnut when several dark forms fluttered out with protesting squawks. — I had disturbed some NIGHT HERONS already back from night fishing and settled for the day's siesta.
Many an evening on the Great South Bay have I seen their slow-moving forms against the evening glow, planing toward their marshy hunting grounds. Often the little catboat, moving silently before the night air along the creeks, flushed their stocky forms from the banks where they were food-hunting. They lack the patience of other Herons and instead of waiting for prey to come within range, pursue their victims with rapid steps.
They nest in large rookeries and the investigator must be indifferent to odors for the only thing which equals the perfume (?) surrounding such colonies is a fertilizing factory!
North America to southern Canada. One of the most widely distributed Herons.