Yellow-crowned Night Herons (Nyctanassa violacea) are leading sightings here…

June 25, 2026Miami Ridge/Atlantic Coastal Strip

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(Nyctanassa violacea) are leading sightings here this month, with thirteen records during their peak breeding season. These specialist crab-hunters wield heavy, powerful bills shaped for one purpose — extracting crustaceans from mud and shallow water. Their presence is a quiet but reliable indicator of mudflat health and prey abundance.

This week's tides are running sixteen centimeters above predicted levels, a surge that's pushing prey organisms into the vegetated margins where the herons hunt most actively. The combination of heightened nesting activity and favorable tidal conditions suggests the mudflat ecosystem is supporting these birds well through spring and into early summer.

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