Black Crowned Night Heron

The Black Crowned Night Heron rookery at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington D.C. is a sight to behold. These birds have been coming to the trees surround the birdhouse for nearly 100 years each summer to raise their young. The herons were at the zoo grounds actually prior to the founding of the National Zoo. Now a vital part of the history of the zoo, zookeepers began feeding them in the afternoons two years ago to reduce competition for food sources for the exhibit birds. The zoo is expected to begin reconstruction/remodeling of the bird house in 2017, and their first priority is to preserve and not disturb these night herons and their long rookery tradition.