Bristol Twp. Environmental Advisory Committee Bird Town Spotlight: The American Bittern

The following article is part a Bristol Township Environmental Advisory Committee initiative to educate community residents on endangered species in Bucks County.

The American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is currently listed as "State Endangered" in Pennsylvania, and is protected by PA Title 34, Chapter 21 Game or Wildlife Protection, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 U.S.C. 703-712).

This sleek statured bird stands 23-24 inches tall with an impressive 36-inch wingspan and an average adult weight of one pound. 

It is identifiable by the dark and light brown colors of its plumage. A black streak rests on its upper neck with brown and white feather coloration running from the throat to the underbelly. Its legs are a distinct muted yellow color.

Native habitats include freshwater marshes with tall vegetation including cattails and bulrushes. 

The unique feather patterns and coloration of the American bittern allow the species to camouflage with wetland plant species to avoid predation. 

As a primarily nocturnal species, they are most active from dusk through the late hours of the night.

The American bittern is a carnivorous bird with a variable diet consisting of fish, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals such as voles, and insects (dragonflies, grasshoppers, and water beetles).

The population declined following the loss of wetland habitats in Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

The US Geological Survey reported in the Water Supply Paper 2425 a loss of over 50% of Pennsylvania’s wetlands in the last two centuries. 

The Department of Environmental Protection reports that 4,660 acres have been restored since 1990 using regulatory and nonregulatory programs. American bittern declines can also be attributed to pesticides leaching into wetlands habitats poisoning species and causing decreases in unaffected invertebrate prey.

As an indicator species, the extinction of the American bittern will disrupt natural ecosystem functions. 

Indicator species are animals or plants whose presence or absence help determine if an ecosystem is healthy or not. 

Extinction may facilitate prey population growth, particularly among vole species, such as the Eastern meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus).

With a short gestation period, a singular female may produce 72 offspring per year. This may negatively impact foliage as voles graze on shrubs and the bark of small trees. 

Voles are also carriers for salmonella, tularemia, rabies, fleas, and Lyme infected ticks.

[Visit the Game Commission’s American Bittern webpage for more information.]

[Visit the WeConservePA Environmental Advisory Council webpage to learn What’s an EAC?]

Submitted By:

-- Arielle Trost is the Secretary of the Bristol Township Bird Town Committee. 

-- Kody Brittingham is the Chairman of the Bristol Township Environmental Advisory Committee.

-- Rachel Omlor is a Consultant to the Environmental Advisory Committee, with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Conservation from Cedar Crest College.

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-- Bristol Twp. Environmental Advisory Committee Bird Town Spotlight: The American Bittern [PaEN]

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[Posted: January 27, 2025]  PA Environment Digest