Black-Crowned Night Herons Building in Upper Niagara River

[Ground State]

Drove the entire Niagara Parkway tonight from Fort Erie to Niagara Falls with specific intentions of finding a night heron for my father, who has never seen one. We made it all the way down to the area of Navy Island without seeing anything but Great Blues. Suddenly, within the space of perhaps two minutes, numerous flocks of them flew by overhead, one after the other. Trees at the side of the road had 2-3 sitting in them. Even downtown Chippawa had night herons in the trees along the water, with pubs right on the other side of the road and a RIDE checkpoint going on. So much for elusiveness! Things have really changed lately in the area above Niagara Falls. These birds are easily spotted and have become quite bold.

[MEGHAN]

What a fantastic photo.
Your father must have been very happy to see so many.
I love the pose and perch in this picture. Quite different than the "normal" shots we usually get.

[Wingnut]

I drive the Parkway quite regularly and saw the night herons a few days ago too. There were 5 on one tree along the Upper Niagara yesterday. Tried to take a pic but I made too much noise and they flew off. The Niagara is full of surprises this year. Doesn't it seem like there are more cormorants than ever and that they are taking over some new trees? Plenty of Great Egrets along the creeks draining into the river also. I live close to river and if you go up Netherby Road there are Bobolinks near Baker Rd intersection. I have never seen Bobolinks in this area before, seen four so far this week. What's next? Bald eagles during the winter and as of 3 days ago the hummingbirds are back.

[Ground State]

Funny you mention how bad the cormorants are as we were just thinking the same thing this weekend. We were in HH Knoll Park in Port Colborne looking out at an offshore island and then again at Strawberry Island in the Niagara River - both of them are absolutely decimated by cormorant roosts and feces. They already look like that island by Burlington Skyway that everyone has 'joked' about for years. Wait until they hit Dufferin Islands... that will be interesting! Maybe it is a little too inland for them to nest, but if not, I'm willing to bet we'll see the NPC in there with rifles.

I am definitely going to check out the bobolink location though! Any further suggestions to help see them?

I do feel as though there is definite Ontario shift this year. I guess it is inevitable. Nothing groundbreaking, just environmental progress. I've seen more tufted titmice and horned larks than ever before. And my wife and I were just thinking about how bizarre it is going to be seeing turkeys as reported along Highway 60 in Algonquin this summer!

[Wingnut]

I am definitely going to check out the bobolink location though! Any further suggestions to help see them?

I've seen them on the fence along Baker Rd just off Netherby going towards Welland(there's a field there) and on Winger Rd I spotted one at the corner of Eagle St. diagonally across from DMI.