Boat-billed Herons arrive in breeding colony in the center of Paramaribo
13/May/2019 23:38 Filed in: Bird Species
On 29 April, 3 Boat-billed Herons have been spotted in the heronry at the mouth of the Sommelsdijckse Creek in the center of Paramaribo. On 5 May, 5 Boatbills have been counted, all 5th calendar year or older. There were no nests yet or any signs of building.
On 12 May, 27 Boatbills were counted. 24 were 5th calendar year or older, one was 4th calendar year, one was third and one second calendar year. At least one couple had a nest.
The Boatbill is always the last to arrive in this heronry. Usually Cattle Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron start breeding in February. In March Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret and Tri-colored Heron start breeding. The Boatbills are arriving end of April or in the beginning of May. Some years they start breeding immediately, while in other years they might wait for a couple of weeks.
Most of the birds that have arrived are all 5th calendar year birds or older. The first birds to start breeding are always the older birds. The species starts breeding in the second calendar year. The plumage then is mainly brown almost similar as the juvenile plumage.
The bird on the photo is a Boat-billed Heron 5th calendar year or older in breeding plumage, hence the huge crest and the yellow wash on the breast, fore-head and cheeks. Seen the big bill and crest this is probably a male. The photo is made by Jean-Louis Rousselle.
The Boatbill is always the last to arrive in this heronry. Usually Cattle Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron start breeding in February. In March Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret and Tri-colored Heron start breeding. The Boatbills are arriving end of April or in the beginning of May. Some years they start breeding immediately, while in other years they might wait for a couple of weeks.
Most of the birds that have arrived are all 5th calendar year birds or older. The first birds to start breeding are always the older birds. The species starts breeding in the second calendar year. The plumage then is mainly brown almost similar as the juvenile plumage.
The bird on the photo is a Boat-billed Heron 5th calendar year or older in breeding plumage, hence the huge crest and the yellow wash on the breast, fore-head and cheeks. Seen the big bill and crest this is probably a male. The photo is made by Jean-Louis Rousselle.