Birds Falling Out of Trees

Mature Black Crowned Night Heron in Monterey Cypress Tree

“Come on down to the waterfront with your camera. There are birds falling out of the trees!” That was the message I got on my cell phone. What could be happening?

I sped on down the hill to the road alongside the waterfront businesses and parked right under a stand of Monterey Cypress trees. The trees, which were not native, had been planted and grew right next to the concrete wall of the defunct power plant. As I investigated, I saw that sure enough there was some truth about the birds. A few carcasses lay in the grass underneath several of the trees. I recognized right away what had happened as these were young black crowned night herons.

The night herons didn’t nest at the heron rookery located farther south near the back bay but had chosen the Cypress trees to build their colony. Glancing up, I saw some sitting on their nests and in other places there were some feathery young perched on the branches of the trees.

Black crowned night herons along with great blue herons and egrets are here in Morro Bay, California year-round and nest in a variety of places. The larger herons use what is left of the Heron Rookery located near the Natural History Museum. Most of the location has been taken over by double crested cormorants and the eucalyptus trees have not survived the attack of their guano. Night herons chose these Monterey Cypress because the trees offer safety in their branches, and they are across the road from the sport fishing businesses and their bait boxes. It has made for an easy maternity ward with access to available food.

The young usually stay in the nest for one month and then are out and perching on the tree branches. They don’t begin to fly for six weeks. The fledglings at the Monterey Cypress rookery often hop up onto the top edge of the concrete wall next to the trees. Here they are in danger of being picked off by peregrine falcons and other hawks.

Immature Black Crowned Night Heron on Wall

As I walked around under the trees, I came across some young birds that appeared well and the parent birds were obviously feeding them. All fledglings have a dicey time once they can crawl out of the nest. In many areas of the world these young leave the nest and gather in groups on the ground for safety.

Their survival under the Cypress trees was still in question since they were in a precarious situation. Coyotes roam the town’s streets at night and are frequent visitors to spots along the waterfront. Raccoons and even loose dogs and feral cats would be a problem for these youngsters.

However, these young birds have a rather disagreeable defense they employ. They regurgitate the contents of their stomachs when threatened. Even some night heron parents do the same thing if their nest is attacked. They also use pooping as a defense. Anyone who has been christened by a dropping of excrement on their head or shoulders can testify to how unpleasant this is.

Black crowned night herons are attractive birds with striking grey and black feathers on their bodies, a long white head plume, and piercing red eyes. Immature night herons have brown and white striped feathers and no head plume. They are known by some cultures as a symbol of mystery and meaning and renewal and transformation. They are thought to be monogamous.

These birds are stocky in shape and not as tall as their heron cousins. When roosting they appear to be hunched. They can be found all over the world near salt, brackish and fresh water and wetlands and are the most widespread heron in the world.

Night herons get their name from their feeding style which occurs mostly at dusk or nighttime. Often in Morro Bay they are seen standing still on the rocks lining the water’s edge concentrating on something only they can see. Suddenly they will pounce forward sticking their bill into the crevice of the stones and come up with a small fish or eel or snake.

They are opportunistic feeders taking clams, mussels, insects, crayfish, lizards, snakes, fish, rodents, eggs, and even birds.

Black Crowned Night Heron with catch

While Black crowned night herons are not threatened or endangered, they like all water birds are subject to decline when wetlands are drained or over development of seaside locations occur. Like us they are susceptible to pollutants, bad water quality, and the climate crisis of a warming planet.

I was pleased to see so many night herons nesting and raising young at Morro Bay and took some photos quickly to leave them in peace to live their lives as they always have and hopefully always will.

Immature Black Crowned Night Herons in Monterey Cypress Tree