Wetland Birds
Least Bittern... Most Secretive
Most people have never seen a Least Bittern. Even experienced birders and wetland explorers rarely get the chance to visually witness their presence. They are experts at hiding in the tall sedges and emergent vegetation of marshes. They stalk their prey with slow, stealthy precision, then quickly lunge forward with a stiletto-like strike. Small and lighter than its close relatives, the herons and egrets, it can perch and walk on foliage of bur reed and cattail. Their recoiled body quickly resumes a subtle and innocent posture. Its warm colors and stripes blend with the strongly vertical vegetation of shallow wetlands. It can assume a camouflage posture where it points its beak strait up. Its stripes and form are difficult to distinguish from the surroundings. These birds are more likely to be heard than seen. Although they are uncommon in the southern Great Lakes region, it is not well known just how uncommon they are or whether their population is changing. According to Kenn Kaufman in Lives of North American Birds, it has seriously declined in the southern part of its range (Northern U.S.) because of habitat loss. Its vulnerability stems from its need for large and healthy marshes either inland or coastal. The Least Bittern is state listed in Ohio as a Threatened Species.
The Least Bittern strikes this vertical freeze position to conceal itself.
This is one of the reasons why we are Marsh Monitoring, to have a better understanding of the creatures that directly depend on wetlands. While conducting our survey at the Wellington Reservation of the Lorain County Metro Parks, we clearly identified a Least Bittern by its call around sunset. The symphony of sound that we focus on during these monitoring session makes our efforts a precious treat. We will continue our monitoring program in the spring. More volunteers are needed to cover the many routes that are available. Training will be offered. Please consider joining us.
The data that we collect is used by the scientific community and as baseline data for the U.S. EPA and Environment Canada. Monitoring throughout the Great Lakes Basin and over many years will lend itself to better science-based decision-making.