Hello again: black crowned night heron spotted in Tompkins Square Park

An EVG reader shared the above photo from last night in Tompkins Square Park... the return of [an elusive] black crowned night heron!

This one, with the dark markings on its back, looks different than the one(s) spotted in previous years (here and here for instance).

Here's a photo of one from last June...right before it foraged the remnants of an Açai bowl blended with banana and apple juice and topped with strawberries and granola...


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

In previous years, the heron(s) returned to Tompkins Square Park in May.

And here's quick cut-n-paste heron refresher via the National Audubon Society:

Seen by day, these chunky herons seem dull and lethargic [ed note: gee, don't sugarcoat it], with groups sitting hunched and motionless in trees near water. They become more active at dusk, flying out to foraging sites, calling "wok" as they pass high overhead in the darkness. Some studies suggest that they feed at night because they are dominated by other herons and egrets by day.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The night heron apparently comes out at night in Tompkins Square Park

Elusive night heron becoming less elusive

Formerly elusive night heron makes triumphant return to Tompkins Square Park

The black crowned night heron continues to come out at... night in Tompkins Square Park

Bobby Williams got a photo of the black crowned night heron that has been spotted here and there around Tompkins Square Park the past few years...

Formerly elusive night heron makes triumphant return to Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by @nitenateperry]

The black crowned night heron that captivated audiences around Tompkins Square Park just about this time last year ... is back!

Several readers tonight reported seeing the heron hanging out in the Park near the entrance on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place...


[Photo by Jose Garcia]

Here's more about the heron via the National Audubon Society:

Seen by day, these chunky [ed note: husky?] herons seem dull and lethargic, with groups sitting hunched and motionless in trees near water. They become more active at dusk, flying out to foraging sites, calling "wok" as they pass high overhead in the darkness. Some studies suggest that they feed at night because they are dominated by other herons and egrets by day.

The Park has been proven to be a good foraging ground... as seen here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The night heron apparently comes out at night in Tompkins Square Park

Elusive night heron becoming less elusive

Elusive night heron becoming less elusive

We've heard about several recent sightings of the (formerly elusive) night heron in Tompkins Square Park of late… EVG regular Grant Shaffer took this photo last night, adding "it gobbled down a rat right in front of us — amazing!"

Or perhaps there is more than one night heron in the Park???

Anyway, the consensus among non-bird experts is that this is a yellow-crowned night heron … or a black-crowned night heron.

Whatever… it's crowned … it's a heron … and it has been eating rats in Tompkins Square Park.



Previously on EV Grieve:
The night heron apparently comes out at night in Tompkins Square Park