IBRC 8-B-10

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Green Heron
HOW MANY: 1

REPORTER: Dave Lawrence 15 S Cobblestone Court Nampa, ID 83651 208-250-1055 cell 208-442-3058 home
REPORTER EMAIL: lawde13@cableone.net
OTHER OBSERVERS: Has been seen by many of Idaho's birders: Cheryl Huizenga, Louie Quintana, Jay Carlisle to name a few

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 1-16-2010
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 12-25-2009

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Marsing City Park, Marsing, ID Owyhee County - The bird was on the north or down-river side of the bridge that crosses the Snake River - There are 3 picnic shelters along the river. Go to the 3rd (last) one from the bridge. The slough will be to your west. The bird was on the west bank of the slough near where a small spring comes out of the brushy hillside.
HABITAT: A backwater swampy slough that has a lot of cattails and grasses. There are also seepage areas along the west bank of the slough.
CONDITIONS: On this date I spent about 45 minutes observing and photographing this bird. I have seen it in the same general area several times over the past 3 months. Another or even perhaps the same bird overwintered in this location last year. Observed and photographed from my truck from about 30 yards away. Used Kahles 8x42 binoculars and Pentax K100 digital camera with an 80-320 zoom lens.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: No, not at all
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: No, not at all
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

DESCRIPTION: Heron family, relatively short yellow legs, largeish bill, full stocky body similar to the body of a Black-crowned Night-Heron but smaller
BEHAVIOR: Stood nearly motionless in shallow water, stalking any food supply. When it did move it was very slow and deliberate almost appearing as if in slow motion. Black-crowned Night-Herons and a Great Blue Heron were nearby for comparison although there was no interaction between this bird and any other species

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? I knew it was a Green Heron immediately on sight. The greenish coloration of the crown, and the reddish color of the neck. Smaller than other herons but larger than a Least Bittern.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? Size, greenish crown, reddish neck, yellow legs, see comments above regarding comparison to other herons and Least Bittern.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I have seen and photographed all of the species mentioned above. This or another Green Heron overwintered last year at the same general loccation
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: I have been birding in Idaho for about 20 years now. I rate myself as an intermediate birder.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo