American Bittern Heard at Lake Helena: The American bittern is a secretive heron of dense marshes, uncommonly observed in Montana, and this is the first time that anyone has reported one in this marsh. We hear the bittern calling for roughly half an hour as the sun’s last glow fades away. The next morning it was heard once again in the pre-dawn hours. Reportedly, it started up around 4:20 am and continued for roughly 40 minutes. Before sunrise arrives, though, it’s become silent, a ghost of a bird hiding in the wetland.
American Bitterns are medium-sized herons with thick, compact bodies. They have shorter legs and thicker necks than typical herons and a slightly hunched posture. The daggerlike bill is long, straight, and sharply pointed. The wings are broad but the wingtips are somewhat pointed.
Lake Helena is designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International: a site specially recognized for its value for bird conservation. Read more or listen for more of the story by Wild With Nature here. Follow Birds & Beasleys for more bird updates.