Herons

Most species in the heron family, and many other types of birds, were unsustainably hunted during the nineteenth century to provide feathers for use in the millinery trade, mostly as decorations on ladies' hats and other clothing. Many millions of herons and egrets were killed for this reason, and their populations declined precipitously in most regions. The outcry among conservationists over the slaughter of so many birds for such a trivial purpose led to the formation of the National Audubon Society in the United States in 1886 and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Great Britain in 1889. These were the first important, non-government organizations that took up the conservation and protection of natural biodiversity as their central mandate.

Today, habitat losses are the most important threat to species in the heron family and to other birds of lakes, shores, and wetlands. These habitat types are suffering world-wide declines from pollution, drainage, conversion to agriculture or urban development, and other stressors associated with human activities. As a result, the populations of herons, egrets, and bitterns are declining in North America and in many other regions, as are other wild life with which these birds share their wetland habitats.

Birds in the heron family are large, attractive, and sometimes relatively tame. Consequently, they are popular among birders; however, the numbers of these beautiful and charismatic birds have declined as a result of continuing influences of humans, especially damage caused to wetlands. In the future, the populations of these birds can only be sustained if sufficiently large areas of their natural habitats are preserved.