Black-crowned night herons breed in Alberta

Black-crowned night herons at the Leduc Reservoir.  Inset:  BCNH photographed in Hawaii.

I have seen black-crowned night herons in Alberta at least two times that I can remember, and once in British Columbia.  The last time I saw any was while visiting Leduc this summer, where my son lives.  I saw a breeding pair there on June 19 at the Leduc Reservoir.  I did manage to get a few shots off before they moved on.  You can see a group of images below.

Black-crowned night heron launching from a branch at the Leduc Reservoir.

If you want to see crowned night herons, go to Hawaii.  They can be found just about anywhere there is water, fresh, salt, or brackish.  Although I have photographed them a few times in Alberta, the best photos have been obtained when visiting Hawaii.  See two more images below.  The left image was photographed in Edmonton in 2016 and the right image in Hawaii in 2024.

Black-crowned night heron adult (left) and juvenile (right).  

Although they aren't the biggest or most colourful heron I have seen, I always get excited seeing one.  Blue herons are certainly bigger, but I see them everywhere in Canada, and tricoloured herons are more colourful, but I have only seen them in Texas.  

It was a joy to see them this summer.  Perhaps I will see them again next year.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com



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