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The Welcome Center in Ocean City, NJ is right next to a rookery with many kinds of birds, including Yellow-crowned Night Herons. These herons are active during daylight hours, in contrast to the Black-crowned Night Heron that are nocturnal. The herons arrived a little over two weeks ago, but within a week they had been busy courting, choosing their partners, and building nests. I took the following photos last Sunday.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron standing next to a nest, thinking about what else could be added to it.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron standing next to a nest, thinking about what else could be added to it.

As a female Yellow-crowned Night Heron works on her nest, a male approaches.

As a female Yellow-crowned Night Heron works on her nest, a male approaches.

"Move over, I want to help!"

“Move over, I want to help!”

He tried to impress her with a display of feathers.

He tried to impress her with a display of feathers.

At another nest, a male Yellow-crowned Night Heron brought a branch to add to the nest.

At another nest, a male Yellow-crowned Night Heron brought a branch to add to the nest.

Meanwhile the Black-crowned Night Herons were starting to wake up.

Black-crowned Night Heron.

Black-crowned Night Heron. “Those yellow-crowned cousins sure make a lot of noise!”

Black-crowned Night Heron:"Yeah, what's all the fuss about?"

Black-crowned Night Heron:”Yeah, what’s all the fuss about?”