Do You Know This Gowanus Canal Bird?

Perhaps you recall the Black-Crowned Night Heron on the Gowanus Canal that we posted about back in June. It goes by the name of Manzana. It turns out Manzana has a friend of some sort. We got an email from Ellie Hanlon of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club pointing us to her flickr photo of this bird, which has been seen lounging and dining in the vicinity of the Carroll Street Bridge and in other spots along the Gowanus Canal. Ms. Hanlon writes:

In the beginning of August we spotted a bird that looked like a baby black crowned night heron (apparently it doesn't really, but that is what I assumed it was) and were very excited to think we had a Manzana family! But I asked a few people who know birds and have gotten different reports about what it might be...Whatever it is, it is so exciting to see wonderful creatures frolicking around the canal. This little guy was having lots of fun and catching lots of fish to eat (people think this is gross but the majority of the fish swim freely all around the the harbor and just come visit in the canal--the canal is totally open to the harbor) and looking quite happy.

Ms. Hanlon would love to know what kind of bird it is. If you know the answer (other than very, very brave), shoot us an email at gowanuslounge (at) gmail (dot) com or post it in the comments section. As always, our souls are immensely lifted by evidence of the fortitude of nature in the face of the meddling of humankind.

Related Posts:
Meet the Gowanus Canal Black-Crowned Night Heron
Gowanus Summer Fun: Canoe the Big G