Subject: Wintering Green-Backed Herons
Date: Jan 13 09:34:41 1998
From: Franny Drobny - fdrobny at cairncross.com


Yesterday I posted a trip report about seeing a green-backed heron in
the Vancouver WA lowlands. A couple people had contacted me wondering
about this, as they may have seen some this winter too. Previously I
had been informed that the green heron usually migrates down to Central
or South America. But now, I've received this posting from Michael
Price that I think others would find of interest:

<<snip from my original posting of trip>>
Another items of interest was at the Vancouver lowlands where we spotted
>a green-backed heron. At one point it was perched on a branch with
snow
>coming down everywhere. The green-backs are supposed to migrate
>somewhere down to Central or South America, but apparently this one
>decided to stay home and enjoy the snow. I guess El Nino faked it out.
<<end of snip>>

Comment from Michael Price:
Green Herons Butyrides striatus actually winter mostly in the southern
US
and Mexico but also in small numbers right up the coast in small
numbers.
There's also resident populations of very closely-related species (once
thought to be subspecies) in Central and South America.

Franny Drobny
Seattle, Washington
fdrobny at cairncross.com