BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

Excuse the poor quality. In order to not frighten the bird, stayed some distance away and used an old 8+ iPhone. 10/14/25

Note: Sorry but you'll have to type article addresses in yourself.

The Rocks

A Parable

A Narrative

A Parable

followed by

The leaves on the junk trees along one side of our property are slowly opening. They're about the last to open, perhaps because the leaves are big, Polo green, thick, shiny, good cover. If this year is as previous years, at least 25 since moving here and 37 years for husband, late one night the black-crowned night herons will fly back to their Summer home.

How will we know they're back? First indication will be when we hear their particular harsh heron squawk. The verified proof will happen when we're sitting down by the river and catch them flying out of the trees, not in a big noisy group, but more stealthily. Usually it won't happen as dusk begins, but as dusk ends and darkness begins. The tell-tale signs of what creatures we've seen hanging around the river will determine if we hang around and watch them fly out at night.

Some nights a black-crowned night heron or two will leave their junk tree haven and fly to the river side of the slowly disintegrating old Horse Chestnut tree whose branches hang over the dock that runs along the shoreline. If sitting there, we'll hear a rustle in the leaves above, but don't look up! Soon it takes off and flies north.

This old tree is also of less than ideal beauty, but we treasure it just as much as the others. They are an integral part of our history here. What makes them so important? Besides the fact we find their unusually contorted shapes symbols of their determination to survive? The wildlife.

No smaller, younger tree can support the life and activity that a mature tree endures. Often such trees are hardy natives. Maybe that's why they're able to survive to the "ugly" stage of life. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

So if these black-crowned night herons are as locally endangered as you'll read in the articles listed above, why didn't we call up an organization and tell them about our seasonal feathered neighbors?

It was a protective measure. Previously I told someone about another big river bird that came by regularly because he enjoyed my whistling while I worked. When that person got angry, the friendly old bird's favorite visiting and fishing tree was cut down.

We didn't want to risk the Black-crowned Night Herons losing their homes too. The old bird losing a good feeding perch was one thing. He probably had many. But Black-crowned Night Herons don't live as long as he did. So for them to have been living for generations in the same old junk trees for so long just seemed important. Although major branches were cut off on one side, we've kept the old trees intact as best we could. Despite the trees crippling frames, the birds kept returning. We hope they do again this year.

Secondly, I once saw a photo of a captured bird being tagged, then read about how they put tracking devices on them. Seems we humans now walk around with tracking devices on us- called cell phones. People have acclimated to it, but wish it hadn't become necessary for one's safety these days. As long as the birds want to live in our yard they can remain here unfettered for as long as the trees remain standing or they find a better place to live.

Try to remember, His eyes are on the sparrow, the Black-crowned night heron, old junk trees, and especially you and me. God bless.

First, Some Facts.

"Tracking the Endangered Black-crowned Night-heron." https://outdoor.wildlifeillinois.org/articles/tracking-the-endangered-black-crowned-night-heron

"BCNH Project Investing in Conservation, THE CHICAGO BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON STORY" illinoisaudubon.org/bcnh-project/

"Welcome back, Black-crowned Night Herons! Lincoln Park Zoo", May 9, 2025

https://www.lpzoo.org>welcome-back-black-crowned-night-herons

When Junk Trees Are Someone's Home

A Sampling of On-Line Articles

Black-Crowned Night Herons

Have you ever felt like a useless junk tree? Or perhaps there's nothing good that could come out of you? Here's a true life story about some old junk trees that in fact weren't junk at all. Instead they were very important trees to special birds living along our river.

Always remember~ God doesn't make junk. In fact He made you in His image. Just like the trees in the story, He has a special purpose for you. In the same way the birds found a safe home, God has a safe home for you. What's your way home? Just follow the Rocks. Click: