You might expect birds such as sparrows and doves to nest in the city, but did you know that Yellow-crowned Night-Herons do? Julie Ann Brown of Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council was excited to see a beautiful pair of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons building a nest in one of the oak trees near the intersection of Avenue K and 18th Street.

This species has adapted quite well to living near people, so this is not an uncommon behavior in areas that have the resources they need for nesting: large trees near water. Initially males can be seen bringing sticks to females to begin building the nest, and both will participate in finishing it, strengthening the pair bond. The completed structure may be as large as four feet across, and the female will lay 2-6 eggs.