Black-crowned night heron foraging habits and use of a catfish aquaculture facility in Mississippi

Aquaculture, populations of piscivorous birds, and producer perceptions of economic loss to such birds have increased in the southeastern United States since the 1980's. Previous research investigated wading bird impacts to aquaculture production, yet little is known about foraging impacts of black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax). I investigated use of a catfish aquaculture facility by free-ranging black-crowned nigh herons (night herons), their diet, catfish consumption by captive night herons, and their size-class preference. I documented pond use by night herons twice weekly, June - September 2004-2006 on Harvest Select Farms near Inverness, MS. Seventy-five night herons were collected for stomach content analysis. I determined number and biomass of catfish fingerlings consumed and size-class preference using 12 captive night herons. Results indicate that night herons consume catfish, are present part of the year, and prefer 15-18-cm fingerlings. This preliminary study furthers the understanding of night heron impacts on catfish production.