The American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a member of the Ardeidae, the heron and egret family. It is a stealthy migrant, making its flights under cover of darkness, then resting and feeding in dense stands of Common Cattails and other marsh plants during the day. It avoids detection by raising its bill skyward to create a profile and color scheme that blends well with the contours of the vegetation. In Pennsylvania, loss of wetland habitat used for nesting has led to the American Bittern being listed as an endangered species.
Swamp Sparrows can be found year-round in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed. They seldom occur far from water, this one spending its time in a dense stand of Common Cattails (Typha latifolia).
