The yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is a medium-sized heron found throughout the southeastern United States, parts of the Caribbean, and Central and South America. As their name suggests, these herons are most active at night, making them a rare sight for most birdwatchers. But if you happen to live near a yellow-crowned night heron rookery, you may catch glimpses of them flying out at dusk or returning at dawn. If you’re lucky enough to have yellow-crowned night herons living near you, knowing what to feed them can help support these fascinating birds.
What do yellow-crowned night herons eat in the wild?
Yellow-crowned night herons are opportunistic feeders that aren’t too picky about what they eat. Their diet consists mainly of small fish, crustaceans like crayfish and crabs, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. They stalk shallow water habitats like marshes, swamps, ponds, and shorelines looking for anything they can grab with their thick, strong bills. Frogs, toads, snails, and aquatic insects make up a large part of their diet. But they will also go after snakes, lizards, small rodents, and even baby birds if given the chance.
In residential areas, yellow-crowned night herons will visit backyard ponds stocked with goldfish and koi. These exotic snacks offer easy pickings for hungry herons. They use their dagger-like bills to snatch fish from water or stalk them from shorelines and low branches. Their diet shifts based on habitat and food availability. But anything small enough to swallow whole may end up on the menu.
Best foods to feed yellow-crowned night herons
If yellow-crowned night herons visit your yard or live nearby, you may want to offer them some supplemental food. This is especially important during breeding season when adults work hard to find food for their chicks. Here are some of the top foods to feed yellow-crowned night herons:
Small fish
Small fish like minnows, goldfish, and guppies make excellent heron fare. You can buy these inexpensive feeder fish from pet stores or bait shops. Goldfish are one of the easiest and most popular backyard pond fish that also tempt herons. Just make sure any outdoor fish are in a protected pond area so they aren’t vulnerable to predation.
Chopped seafood
Chopped seafood like small pieces of shrimp, catfish, tilapia, or crayfish tail meat are enticing to night herons. You can often buy frozen seafood mixes made for birds at nature shops or birdfeeding websites. Just defrost the pieces and serve them in a shallow dish of water.
Crickets and mealworms
Live insects are natural foods for night herons. Crickets, grasshoppers, and mealworms are excellent choices. You can buy these from pet stores, bait shops, or online. Serve them in dishes, scatter them in shallow water, or sprinkle them in grassy areas to attract foraging herons.
Hardboiled eggs
Chopped hardboiled eggs are an easy protein source that herons will relish. Hardboil some eggs, let them cool, chop into bite-size pieces, and mix in with other wet foods. The shells can provide some supplemental calcium too.
Chopped amphibians or reptiles
If you can get your hands on fresh frogs, toads, small lizards, snakes, or turtles, these make natural foods to offer. Some bait shops sell frozen or refrigerated amphibians and reptiles intended for consumption by raptors and other birds. Obviously this isn’t a food choice for the faint-hearted. But it provides an authentic diet item for herons.
Foods not to feed yellow-crowned night herons
While yellow-crowned night herons will eat a wide range of prey, there are some foods you should avoid offering them:
Large fish
Avoid feeding night herons very large fish that could cause choking or satiate them before other birds get food. Goldfish and other small pond fish, minnows, or pieces of fish fillets are safer options.
Chicken and pet food
Chicken products, pet food, bird seed, and other items meant for backyard birds or pets are not appropriate foods for herons. They can lead to nutritional imbalances or even sickness in herons.
Bread
Bread and other human foods like chips or crackers lack nutrition for herons. They may eagerly eat them, but these empty calories can do more harm than good. Natural food items are best.
Desserts
Avoid sugary treats like cakes, cookies, candy, etc. Herons cannot process these and they can cause digestive upset, illness, or even death.
Processed meats
Avoid processed items like lunch meats, hot dogs, sausages, or bacon. Sodium levels are too high for herons and may lead to toxicity.
How to feed yellow-crowned night herons
To successfully offer food to yellow-crowned night herons, here are some tips:
Set up feeding stations
Designate areas in your yard specifically for feeding herons. Place platforms or tables in shallow water or marshy areas and sprinkle food here daily. Raised platforms with shallow ramps allow easy access for herons.
Offer fish in backyard ponds
If you have outdoor ponds, add minnows or goldfish that herons can catch. Just be sure to have hiding places so some survive.
Spread food along shorelines
Scatter live insects, chopped seafood, or other damp foods along marshy shorelines where herons forage at night.
Provide food at dusk
Herons feed most actively at dawn and dusk. Time feedings for late afternoon to attract birds before they leave to hunt.
Use shallow dishes
Offer fish, chopped seafood, crickets, worms, and similar foods in shallow containers. Add a bit of water to keep foods like fish alive longer. Flat rocks or plates work well.
Elevate dishes
Place dishes on platforms, posts, or poles a few feet off the ground. This makes it easier for long-legged herons to feed.
Scatter insects
Release crickets, grasshoppers, mealworms, or other insects into shallow water or grassy areas where herons can catch them.
Stay quiet and still
When first offering new foods, stay hidden and quiet to avoid startling wary herons. Once they grow accustomed to feedings, they will be less skittish.
Creating a heron-friendly backyard
In addition to offering tasty foods, you can make your backyard extra inviting to yellow-crowned night herons with these habitat enhancements:
- Add a small backyard pond with a marshy edge
- Allow vegetation like reeds, rushes, or willow branches to grow in and around water
- Leave dead snags standing in water for perching/nesting
- Plant shade trees overhanging the water
- Set up nesting platforms or boxes if possible
- Limit disturbances and loud noises near feeding/nesting sites
Providing a secluded, undisturbed wetland oasis will go a long way towards attracting herons and other wading birds. They need adequate space away from people, pets, traffic, and noise. As more wetlands are lost to development, backyard habitats become even more essential.
Key takeaways on feeding yellow-crowned night herons
- Offer live fish, chopped seafood, crickets, worms, eggs, amphibians, and reptiles
- Avoid chicken, pet food, bread, desserts, and processed meats
- Use feeding platforms, dishes, and shoreline feeding areas
- Provide food at dusk when herons are most active
- Enhance backyard wetlands to attract more herons
With some planning and the right habitat, you can successfully feed yellow-crowned night herons near your home. Observing these majestic birds up-close as they feed is an experience bird lovers won’t soon forget. Do your part to support yellow-crowned night heron populations by offering supplemental food sources in your unique backyard wetland ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do yellow-crowned night herons need supplemental feeding?
As wetlands are lost and prey becomes scarcer, supplemental feeding provides important nutrition for breeding and migrating herons. It helps compensate for the insects, amphibians, and aquatic creatures lost due to habitat destruction.
How often should I offer food for night herons?
Aim to provide food daily, especially during spring nesting season. Scatter small amounts in the morning and larger amounts in the late afternoon when herons are most actively foraging.
What does it mean if a heron visits my backyard?
Herons are very shy, so if one starts regularly visiting your yard, it means you have succeeded in creating an inviting wetland habitat! With some patience, you may even be able to attract a breeding pair.
Will feeding attract other wild animals?
Feeding stations may also draw other wetland wildlife like raccoons, opossums, turtles, or frogs. While herons will not be deterred, you can take steps to make food inaccessible to unwanted critters.
Where can I buy safe food for yellow-crowned night herons?
Pet stores, bait shops, nature centers, or online birdfeeding suppliers will carry suitable heron foods like goldfish, crickets, mealworms, and seafood mixes. Buy small fish and cut other meat into bite-size pieces.
Conclusion
Yellow-crowned night herons are amazing backyard visitors for any wetland habitat. Their nocturnal feeding behaviors mean we rarely get to observe them hunting for foods like fish, frogs, snails, and insects. While not necessary, supplementing their diet with nutritious natural foods can support local heron populations and give bird lovers a special sight right in their yards. With some preparation to offer safe foods, you can successfully feed these fascinating wetland hunters. Enjoy this rare chance to connect with yellow-crowned night herons and support their survival, all from your own backyard.