Watching birds from our backyard/backdoor is becoming quite interesting. Our latest visitor to the water’s edge is this Green Heron. He caught our attention this morning, again, while we were having breakfast. Of course, by the time I got my camera on, he flew off. The Joys and Disapointments of birdwatching. These photos are cropped so that you can see him better. These were taken a few days ago.
Green Heron 6-9-20 by Lee Cropped
And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. (Leviticus 11:19)
What is so amazing about this sighting is how hard we have searched for them on birdwatching trips. Green Herons (Butorides virescens) are known to be secretive, and because of their colors, stay well hidden in the mangroves and other bushes along the water. When we spot “Greenies” on a trip, it is usally one of our highlights.
“Compared with most herons, Green Herons are short and stocky, with relatively short legs and thick necks that are often drawn up against their bodies. They have broad, rounded wings and a long, daggerlike bill. They sometimes raise their crown feathers into a short crest.” All About Birds – Size & Shape
Green Heron 6-9-20 by Lee Cropped
Interesting Fact from Wikipedia: “Green herons are one of the few species of bird known to use tools. In particular, they commonly use bread crusts, insects, or other items as bait. The bait is dropped onto the surface of a body of water in order to lure fish. When a fish takes the bait, the green heron will then grab and eat the fish. When green herons catch large frogs, they will drown them before swallowing them whole.
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26 NKJV)
I posted this video back in 2013, and thought you might enjoy it again.
“Color Pattern – From a distance Green Herons look all dark. In better light they are deep green on the back with a rich chestnut breast and neck. The wings are dark gray. Juveniles are browner, with pale streaking on the neck and spots on the wings.” All About Birds
Green Heron 6-9-20 by Lee Cropped
Here is a previous photo taken at Flamingo Gardens, Florida several years ago. That is the way you normally find them. Not out in the open like our current one.
TO THE CHILDREN AND THE BIRDS OF AMERICA THAT THE BONDS OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THEM MAY BE STRENGTHENED THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED
PREFACE
This book was written to supply a definite need. Its preparation was undertaken at the urgent request of booksellers and others who have felt the lack of a satisfactory medium of introduction to bird life for little children. As such, and in no sense whatever as a competitor with the many excellent books on this subject, but rather to supplement these, this volume has been written.
Its primary purpose is to interest the little child in, and to make him acquainted with, those feathered friends he is most likely to see. Because there is no method of approach to the child mind equal to the story, this method of conveying information has been adopted. So far as I am aware the book is unique in this respect. In its preparation an earnest effort has been made to present as far as possible the important facts regarding the appearance, habits and characteristics of our feathered neighbors. It is intended to be at once a story book and an authoritative handbook. While it is intended for little children, it is hoped that children of larger growth may find in it much of both interest and helpfulness.
Mr. Louis Agassiz Fuertes, artist and naturalist, has marvelously supplemented such value as may be in the text by his wonderful drawings in full color. They were made especially for this volume and are so accurate, so true to life, that study of them will enable any one to identify the species shown. I am greatly indebted to Mr. Fuertes for his cooperation in the endeavor to make this book of real assistance to the beginner in the study of our native birds.
It is offered to the reader without apologies of any sort. It was written as a labor of love—love for little children and love for the birds. If as a result of it even a few children are led to a keener interest in and better understanding of our feathered friends, its purpose will have been accomplished.
Some Homes in the Green Forest. – The Crow, the Oven Bird and the Red-tailed Hawk.
A Maker of Thunder and a Friend in Black. – The Ruffed Grouse and the Crow Blackbird.
A Fisherman Robbed. – The Osprey and the Bald-headed Eagle.
A Fishing Party. – The Great Blue Heron and the Kingfisher.
Some Feathered Diggers. – The Bank Swallow, the Kingfisher and the Sparrow Hawk.
Some Big Mouths. – The Nighthawk, the Whip-poor-will and Chuck-wills-widow.
The Warblers Arrive. – The Redstart and the Yellow Warbler.
Three Cousins Quite Unlike. – The Black and White Warbler, the Maryland Yellow-Throat and the Yellow-breasted Chat.
Peter Gets a Lame Neck. – The Parula, Myrtle and Magnolia Warblers.
A New Friend and an Old One. – The Cardinal and the Catbird.
Peter Sees Rosebreast and Finds Redcoat. – The Rose-breasted Grosbeak and the Scarlet Tanager.
The Constant Singers. – The Red-eyed, Warbling and Yellow-throated Vireos.
Jenny Wren’s Cousins. – The Brown Thrasher and the Mockingbird.
Voices of the Dusk. – The Wood, Hermit and Wilson’s Thrushes.
Peter Saves a Friend and Learns Something. – The Towhee and the Indigo Bunting.
A Royal Dresser and a Late Nester. – The Purple Linnet and the Goldfinch.
Mourner the Dove and Cuckoo. – The Mourning Dove and the Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
A Butcher and a Hummer. – The Shrike and the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
A Stranger and a Dandy. – The English Starling and the Cedar Waxwing.
Farewells and Welcomes. – The Chickadee.
Honker and Dippy Arrive. – The Canada Goose and the Loon.
Peter Discovers Two Old Friends. – The White-breasted Nuthatch and the Brown Creeper.
Some Merry Seed-Eaters. – The Tree Sparrow and the Junco.
More Friends Come With the Snow. – The Snow Bunting and the Horned Lark.
Peter Learns Something About Spooky. – The Screech Owl.
Queer Feet and a Queerer Bill. – The Ruffed Grouse and the Crossbills.
More Folks in Red. – The Pine Grosbeak and the Redpoll.
Peter Sees Two Terrible Feathered Hunters. – The Goshawk and the Great Horned Owl.
Lee’s Addition:
I think you will greatly enjoy this book. Birds and their behaviors are presented in a story, but many birdwatching truths are introduced. Look for questions and Christian principle at the end of the chapters. These are also a good way to read and teach your child or grandchild. Enjoy!
(P.S. – Just found a source for audio for these chapters. They will be attached.)
(The first chapter is being released today)
The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Burgess Bird Book for Children, by Thornton W. Burgess
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org
