FEATHRUARY 2025

Prompt 4: Camo
-> American Bittern

Huh, why did I post an empty canvas today? Oh, no no, it's not empty at all! If you look veeery closely, you can see the elusive American Bittern, an expert in camouflage. You've probably never seen one because these bois hide like there's annoying relatives coming over for the holidays.

All jokes aside, if you live in Canada or the Northern US, chances are you have come across one of those cuties. It inhabits marshes, lakes and ponds, where it likes to live by itself and to spend its time foraging for fish, crustaceans and insects.

Compared to the European Bittern, this fella is slightly smaller and its plumage is speckled, not barred. Its size is just between the regular and the mini blahaj, its weight is about as much as your average pack of flour.

FUN FACT
The American Bittern has obtained many nicknames, including but not limited to: Bog Bumper, Stake Driver, Thunder Pumper, Bog Bull, Bog Thumper, Mire Drum and Water Belcher (which is the nickname I, too, shall claim for myself.)

#feathruary #feathruary2025 #bird #birds #birb #birbs #birdart #digitalart #drawing #bittern #bitterns #americanbittern
A Bittern on the Hunt

YouTube

#Conservation success: Rare #birds make remarkable comeback
https://nation.cymru/news/conservation-success-rare-birds-make-remarkable-comeback/

"Before 2020, #bitterns had previously not bred on the #GwentLevels for at least 200 years, yet officers have recently recorded four separate nests at the reserve... The #MarshHarriers originally arrived at #NewportWetlands in 2016 and the original pair raised 12 chicks between 2017 and 2022. A second pair began breeding at the reserve in 2023 and successfully fledged 3 chicks."

Conservation success: Rare birds make remarkable comeback

In the face of the current nature and biodiversity emergencies, and the risk of extinction faced by some species across Wales, stories of conservation success can offer us hope for the future. One such uplifting example involves the remarkable return of two of the UK’s rarest and most elusive marshland birds –  bitterns and marsh […]

Nation.Cymru

"Britain’s loudest #bird has had a very successful breeding year, with 24% more male #bitterns recorded doing their mating “booming” noise in 2023 compared with five years ago.

Boom in mating calls of Britain’s loudest bird signals successful breeding year | #Conservation | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/05/boom-mating-call-britain-loudest-bird-breeding-year-male-bitterns

#habitatloss
#environment
#UKbirds
#wildlife
#Nature
#climatechange

Boom in mating calls of Britain’s loudest bird signals successful breeding year

Conservationists recorded 24% more male bitterns doing their mating ‘booming’ noise in 2023 than five years ago

The Guardian
Bitterns: Britain's loudest bird making a comeback in London

Sightings of bitterns over winter have been increasing over the last 21 years, conservations say.

BBC News
A fantastic day in #KenfigNNR yesterday with my new camera. I'm still trying to work out how to use the #CanonR7 but I couldn't have wished for a better subject to practice on. The #Bitterns were amazing! @KenfigWarden; @KenfigRingers; @glamorganbirds; @RSPBCymru; @WTSWW; @GOS_birds