Mission Black Crowned Night-Herons

Posted: January 27th, 2010 | Author: neas | Filed under: Birding, Nature in the Mission | Tags: , | 5 Comments »


Skyler Mendoza

Black Crowned Night-Herons perching in the Mission. How crazy is that? Mission lake is long gone, but these water birds instinctively fly back here to roost.


Black Crowned Night-Heron poop

First heard about these Mission Night Herons from Candy on the SF bird yahoo group. I didn’t believe it. But, sure enough, when I walked up Dolores St. on the East Side b/w 16th and 17th I couldn’t miss the poop. Herons are a rather large bird so their poop is pretty big too. With this much rain poop will wash away quickly, but if you see it, that means Skyler is still here chillin’.


Notre Dame Plaza

The plaza is right across the street from Mission Dolores. Skyler is in that tree there.


Skyler Mendoza chillin’.

You might not even notice Skyler if you weren’t looking.


Skyler Mendoza

Skyler, don’t know how long you will stay, but we’re glad you’re here. You’re welcome anytime. Please come again.

5 Comments on “Mission Black Crowned Night-Herons”

  1. 1 kate at yr own risk said at 5:04 pm on January 27th, 2010:

    who named the night heron Skyler Mendoza?

  2. 2 neas said at 8:33 am on January 29th, 2010:

    I gave it a shot. No telling if this Night Heron is male or female, “Skyler” seems appropriate. Birds are habitual, so there’s a good chance we’ll see the same bird again. We have at least a year to see if any name will stick.

  3. 3 tracy said at 8:45 pm on March 13th, 2011:

    Living near Mission Dolores, I’ve learned where Not to park– and that would be under the large tree on the West side of Dolores between Chula and 17th. A few hours there, and your car is coated with bird poop! Talking with long time (30 year) residents (Tim and Ruth), I learned about the fifteen or so Night Herons who reside there about half the year. These gigantic Herons seem so out of place in the couple of trees they frequent. I just spotted five of them out there now sleeping away. Around 7pm, the flock of them go out for dinner. Now that I know this, I’m no longer so sorry about how they bomb the cars below (yet it is quite a drag to get off); instead, I’m charmed to have them as neighbors.

  4. 4 adrian said at 6:23 am on December 16th, 2011:

    A friend of mine just came across them foraging in dolores park tonight:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuffandnonsense/sets/72157628438929191/with/6519515725/

  5. 5 neas said at 7:39 am on December 16th, 2011:

    They’re back!

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