The Black-crowned night herons are the stars of the Cité Historia’s Old Mill, located at the western tip of the Montreal Nature Park, Ile-de-la-Visitation. Last week, the Black-crowned night herons made their well awaited return.
Black-crowned night heron – 2014 first arrival
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.
Black-crowned night heron fishing – Ile-de-la-Visitation Nature Park
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.
Black-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 heron
For a Spring birding excursion at Ile-de-la-Visitation Nature Park don’t miss the Journées Ornithologues avec Joël Coutu du 19 ma and sortie ornitho CORDEM du mercredi 14 mai avec Joel Coutu
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