Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile

Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile

We were at the ponds north of Kona in the evening, the activity near sunset was amazing.

Black-crowned Night Heron

Found by the ocean or ponds on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Black-crowned Night Heron

Chilling at the end of the day.

Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile

Fishing the shallows by lava rocks during the evening.

Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile

Fishing just before sunset in 77F with a light breeze, I would sure like to be back there now :)

Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile

Fishing just before sunset in 77F temperatures with a light breeze, I would sure like to be back there now :)

Black-crowned Night Heron

Later in the evening the Heron flew down to a pond area to roost for the night.

Black-crowned Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron Juvenile

Perched with in a few meters of the Adult i was under the impression they were fairly safe from predators after doing some reading this is not the case. Introduced predators like Dogs, rats , feral cats , the small Indian mongoose , cattle egrets , and barn owls all potentially prey on adult or young 'auku'u (black crowned night heron)

No Fear

A Black-crowned Night-Heron does a close, low flyby. There didn't appear to be a reason for it, just buzzing tourists. There are a lot of BCNH in Kona, especially at the ponds north of the marina. This species is a native to Hawaii named 'auku'u.