One spring in the late 1800’s, a wild flock of black-crowned night herons first descended onto what is now the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. There they found sanctuary and roosted for the summer. And they’ve been returning annually ever s

October 22, 2015

One spring in the late 1800’s, a wild flock of black-crowned night herons first descended onto what is now the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. There they found sanctuary and roosted for the summer. And they’ve been returning annually ever since.

These unique birds, nearly hunted to extinction at the turn of the 20th century, are the only known breeding colony of its kind in the entire Mid-Atlantic region, making their migration truly remarkable.