Birds

Whoo-Hoo! Green Heron is the 2015 American Birding Association Bird of the Year!

January 5, 2015 by Corey 4 Comments

My lobbying must be more effective than I thought because the Green Heron has been named as the American Birding Association Bird of the Year for 2015! I certainly can’t think of a better pick. After all, Green Heron is the bird that made me become a birder. They are widespread and common across most of the American Birding Association area so we all can enjoy their presence but they aren’t a bird that many non-birders recognize so there is a chance for some education to take place. Not only that but Green Herons are sometimes called “Shitepokes“ and they have awesome necks.

Green Heron stretch

Any bird with a neck this extendable deserves some kind of recognition.

Your average Green Heron has more than an amazing neck and a scatological nickname though. It also has a pretty big brain. Yeah, that’s right, Green Herons are smart. You know how I know that? They go fishing. With bait. Seriously. What other bird can compare? None.

Green Heron 1

More than ready for its close up, this Green Heron is very pleased to be the 2015 ABA Bird of the Year!

Thank you, American Birding Association, for making such an inspired choice. Now, about my proposal to split the Song Sparrow into thirty-five species…who do I talk to about that?

Green Heron - 2015 ABA Bird of the Year

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Written by Corey
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.