The Yellow-Crowned Night Herons (Nyctanassa violancea) is a small heron that were once common in Bermuda, but became extinct after human arrival. The population of Land Crabs (Gecarcinus lateralis) exploded since the heron was their natural predator. Between 1976 and 1978, a total of 44 birds hand-reared on a diet of Land Crabs were released to control the crab population. The herons reestablished themselves on the island while the population of Land Crabs crashed.

Photo taken at: Tucker Estate - Devonshire, Bermuda

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Photo © 2008 by George Lin