Aug. 19, 2019
Houston Audubon is in the final round of selecting the Bird of Houston. Deadline to vote is Friday, August 23.
Cast your ballot. The final contenders are the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken versus the Yellow-crowned Night Heron.
Obviously we are for the Yellow-crowned Night Heron.
Juvenile yellow-crowned night heron pondering whether to fly or stay in the nest as long as possible. Photo on May 20, 2016, by Allison Zapata.
Here’s the way Houston Audubon explains it:
“While the graceful Great Blue Heron came in a close third with hundreds of votes, you’ve spoken! The final round pits two very different species against one another in competition for the coveted title. The endangered Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken, though no longer found in the wild within the city, has had great support by several Houston conservation groups that are instrumental in its protection and continued survival in the wild. This species not only reminds us of the tallgrass prairies that once graced our landscape but has grabbed the imagination of many who fight for their recovery. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, on the other hand, has sparked interest in those who have caught a glimpse of them in local greenspaces, waterways and even some backyard trees. This species not only nests and raises its young here, but it engages Houstonians who notice its unusual plumage and propensity for fishing along our bayous.”
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