Herons Temporal range: Lower Eocene-Recent, 55–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
File:GBHfish5.jpg
Great Blue Heron in St. Joseph Sound, Tarpon Springs, FL.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Subclass:	Neornithes
Infraclass:	Neognathae
Superorder:	Neoaves
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Family:	Ardeidae Leach, 1820
Genera
About 17, see text
Global distribution of Herons.
Synonyms
Cochlearidae

The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 64 recognised species (some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"). Within Ardeidae, all members of the genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus are referred to as "bitterns", and — including the Zigzag Heron or Zigzag Bittern — are a monophyletic group within the Ardeidae. However, egrets are not a biologically distinct group from the herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white and/or have decorative plumes. Although egrets have the same build as the larger herons, they tend to be smaller.

The classification of the individual heron/egret species is fraught with difficulty, and there is still no clear consensus about the correct placement of many species into either of the two major genera, Ardea and Egretta. Similarly, the relationship of the genera in the family is not completely resolved. However, one species formerly considered to constitute a separate monotypic family Cochlearidae, the Boat-billed Heron, is now regarded as a member of the Ardeidae.

Although herons resemble birds in some other families, such as the storks, ibises, spoonbills and cranes, they differ from these in flying with their necks retracted, not outstretched. They are also one of the bird groups that have powder down. Some members of this group nest colonially in trees, while others, notably the bitterns, use reedbeds.

Description[link]

The neck of this Yellow Bittern is fully retracted.

The herons are medium to large sized birds with long legs and necks. They exhibit very little sexual dimorphism in size. The smallest species is usually considered the Little Bittern, which can measure under 30 cm (12 in) in length, although all the species in the Ixobrychus genus are small and many broadly overlap in size. The largest species of heron is the Goliath Heron, which stand up to 152 cm (60 in) tall. The necks are able to kink in an s-shape, due to the modified shape of the sixth vertebrae. The neck is able to retract and extend, and is retracted during flight, unlike most other long-necked birds. The neck is longer in the day herons than the night herons and bitterns. The legs are long and strong and in almost every species are unfeathered from the lower part of the tibia (the exception is the Zigzag Heron). In flight the legs and feet are held backward. The feet of herons have long thin toes, with three forward pointing ones and one going backward.^[1]

The Pacific Reef Egret has two colour morphs, the light and the dark

The bill is generally long and harpoon like. It can vary from extremely fine, as in the Agami Heron, to thick as in the Grey Heron. The most atypical bill is owned by the Boat-billed Heron, which has a broad thick bill. The bill, as well as other bare parts of the body, is usually yellow, black or brown coloured, although this colour can vary during the breeding season. The wings are broad and long, exhibiting 10-11 primaries primaries feathers (the Boat-billed Heron has only nine), 15-20 secondaries and 12 rectrices (10 in the bitterns). The feathers of the herons are soft and the plumage is usually blue, black, brown, grey or white, and can often be strikingly complex. Amongst the day herons there is little sexual dimorphism in plumage (except in the pond-herons); differences between the sexes are the rule for the night herons and smaller bitterns. Many species also have different colour morphs.^[1] In the Pacific Reef Heron there are both dark and light colour morphs, and the percentage of each morph varies geographically. White morphs only occur in areas with coral beaches.^[2]

Distribution, habitat and movements[link]

Lava Herons are endemic to the Galápagos Islands where they feed on fish and crabs in the intertidal and mangrove areas

The herons are a widespread family with a cosmopolitan distribution. They exist on all continents except Antarctica, and are present in most habitats except the coldest extremes of the Arctic, extremely high mountains and the driest deserts. Almost all species are associated with water, they are essentially non-swimming waterbirds that feed on the margins of lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds and the sea. They are predominately found in lowland areas, although some species live in alpine areas, and the majority of species occur in the tropics.^[1]

The herons are a highly mobile family, with most species being at least partially migratory. Some species are partially migratory, for example the Grey Heron, which is mostly sedentary in Britain but mostly migratory in Scandinavia. Birds are particularly inclined to disperse widely after breeding but before the annual migration where the species is colonial, searching out new feeding areas and reducing the pressures on feeding grounds near the colony. The migration typically occurs at night, usually as individuals or in small groups.^[1]

Behaviour[link]

Diet[link]

Great Egret manipulating its prey, a lizard, prior to swallowing

The herons and bitterns are carnivorous. The members of this family are mostly associated with wetlands and water, and feed on a variety of live aquatic prey. The diet includes a wide variety of aquatic animals, including fish, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic insects. Individual species may be generalists or specialise in certain prey types, like the Yellow-crowned Night Heron, which specialises in crustaceans, particularly crabs.^[3] Many species will also opportunistically take larger prey, including birds and bird eggs, and more rarely carrion. Even more rarely there have been reports of herons eating acorns, peas and grains, but most vegetable matter consumed is accidental.^[1]

Black Herons holding wings out to form an umbrella-like canopy to hunt under

The most common hunting technique is for the bird to sit motionless on the edge of or standing in shallow water and wait until prey comes within range. Birds may either do this from an upright posture, giving them a wider field of view for seeing prey, or from a crouched position, which is more cryptic and means the bill is closer to the prey when it is located. Having seen prey the head is moved from side to side, so that the heron can calculate the position of the prey in the water and compensate for refraction, and then the bill is used to spear the prey.^[1]

A grey-coloured heron standing up to its chest in water with its wings outstretched and slightly forward of the body looking at highly disturbed water

In addition to sitting and waiting, herons may feed more actively. They may walk slowly, at around or less than 60 paces a minute, snatching prey when it is observed. Other active feeding behaviours include foot stirring and probing, where the feet are used to flush out hidden prey.^[4] The wings may be used to frighten prey (or possibly attract it to shade) or to reduce glare; the most extreme example of this is exhibited by the Black Heron, which forms a full canopy with its wings over its body.^[5]

Some species of heron, such as the Little Egret and Grey Heron, have been documented using bait in order to lure prey to within striking distance. Herons may use items already in place, or actively add items to the water in order to attract fish. Items used may be man made, such as bread;^[6] alternatively Striated Herons in the Amazon have been watched repeatedly dropping seeds, insects, flowers and leaves into the water to catch fish.^[7]

Three species, the Black-headed Heron, Whistling Heron and especially the Cattle Egret are less tied to watery environments and may feed far away from water. Cattle Egrets improve their foraging success by following large grazing animals, catching insects flushed by their movement. One study found that the success rate of prey capture increased 3.6 times over solitary foraging.^[8]

Breeding[link]

The larger bitterns, like this American Bittern, are solitary breeders. To advertise for mates, males use loud characteristic calls, referred to as booming

While the family exhibits a range of breeding strategies, overall the herons are monogamous and mostly colonial. Most day-herons and night-herons are colonial, or partly colonial depending on circumstances, whereas the bitterns and tiger-herons are mostly solitary nesters. Colonies may contain several species as well as other types of waterbird. In a study of Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets in India the majority of the colonies surveyed contained both species.^[9] Nesting is seasonal in temperate species; in tropical species it may be seasonal (often coinciding with the rainy season) or year-round. Even in year-round breeders nesting intensity varies throughout the year. Tropical herons typically have only one breeding season per year, unlike some other tropical birds which may raise up to three broods a year.^[1]

Courtship usually takes part on the nest. Males arrive first and begin the building of the nest, where they display to attract females. In colonial species displays involve visual cues, which can include adopting postures or ritual displays, whereas in solitary species auditory cues, such as the deep booming of the bitterns, are important. The exception to this is the Boat-billed Heron, which pairs up away from the nesting site. Having paired the pair continue to build the nest in almost all species, although in the Little Bittern and Least Bittern only the male works on the nest.^[1]

Some ornithologists have reported observing female herons attaching themselves to impotent mates, then seeking sexual gratification elsewhere.^[1]

The nests of herons are usually found near or above water. They are typically placed in vegetation, although the nests of a few species have been found on the ground where suitable trees of shrubs are unavailable.^[1][9] Trees are used by many species, and here they may be placed high up from the ground, whereas species living in reedbeds may nest very close to the ground.^[1]

Generally herons lay between three to seven eggs. Larger clutches are reported in the smaller bitterns and more rarely some of the larger day-herons, and single egg clutches are reported for some of the tiger-herons. Clutch size varies by latitude within species, with individuals in temperate climates laying more eggs than tropical ones. On the whole the eggs are glossy blue or white, with the exception being the large bitterns which lay olive-brown eggs.^[1]

Name[link]

Herons are also known as "shitepokes" (pronunciation: /ˈʃaɪtpoʊk/), or euphemistically as "shikepokes" or "shypokes". Webster's Dictionary suggests that herons were given this name because of their habit of defecating when flushed. The terms "shitepoke" or "shikepoke" can be used as insults in a number of situations.^[10] For example, the term "shikepoke" appears in the 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs, and in the 1943 musical play Oklahoma!.

The 1971 Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary describes the use of "shitepoke" for the small green heron of North America (Butorides virescens) as originating in the United States, citing a published example from 1853. The OED also observes that "shiterow" or "shederow" are terms used for herons, and also applied as derogatory terms meaning a "thin weakly person". This name for a heron is found in a list of gamebirds in a royal decree of James VI (1566–1625) of Scotland. The OED speculates that "shiterow" is a corruption of "shiteheron".^[11]

Taxonomy and systematics[link]

Analyses of the skeleton, mainly the skull, suggested that the Ardeidae could be split into a diurnal and a crepuscular/nocturnal group which included the bitterns. From DNA studies and skeletal analyses focusing more on bones of body and limbs, this grouping has been revealed as incorrect.^[12] Rather, the similarities in skull morphology reflect convergent evolution to cope with the different challenges of daytime and nighttime feeding. Today, it is believed that three major groups can be distinguished,^[13] which are (from the most primitive to the most advanced):

• tiger herons and the boatbill
• bitterns
• day-herons and egrets, and night-herons

The night herons could warrant separation as subfamily Nycticoracinae, as it was traditionally done. However, the position of some genera (e.g. Butorides or Syrigma) is unclear at the moment, and molecular studies have until now suffered from a small number of studied taxa. Especially the relationship among the ardeine subfamily is very badly resolved. The arrangement presented here should be considered provisional.

Recent DNA evidence suggests that this family belongs to the Pelecaniformes.^[14] In response to these findings, the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) recently reclassified Ardeidae and their sister taxa Threskiornithidae under the order Pelecaniformes instead of the previous order of Ciconiiformes.^[15]

Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Tigrisoma mexicanum

Great Bittern, Botaurus stellaris

Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta

Subfamily Tigrisomatinae

• Genus Cochlearius — Boat-billed Heron
• Genus Tigrisoma — typical tiger herons (3 species)
• Genus Tigriornis — White-crested Tiger Heron
• Genus Zonerodius — Forest Bittern

Subfamily Botaurinae

• Genus Zebrilus — Zigzag Heron
• Genus Ixobrychus — small bitterns (8 living species, 1 recently extinct)
• Genus Botaurus — large bitterns (4 species)

Subfamily Ardeinae

• Genus Zeltornis (fossil)
• Genus Nycticorax — typical night herons (2 living species, 4 recently extinct; includes Nyctanassa)
• Genus Nyctanassa — American night herons (1 living species, 1 recently extinct)
• Genus Gorsachius — Asian and African night herons (4 species)
• Genus Butorides — green-backed herons (3 species; sometimes included in Ardea)
• Genus Agamia — Agami Heron
• Genus Pilherodius — Capped Heron
• Genus Ardeola — pond herons (6 species)
• Genus Bubulcus — cattle egrets (1-2 species, sometimes included in Ardea)
• Genus Proardea — (fossil)
• Genus Ardea — typical herons (11-17 species)
• Genus Syrigma — Whistling Heron
• Genus Egretta — typical egrets (7-13 species)
• Genus Mesophoyx — Intermediate Egret
• Genus undetermined
  • Easter Island Heron, Ardeidae gen. et sp. indet. (prehistoric)

Fossil herons of unresolved affiliations:

• Calcardea (Paleocene)
• Xenerodiops (Early Oligocene of Fayyum, Egypt)
• "Anas" basaltica (Late Oligocene of "Warnsdorf", Czechia)
• Ardeagradis
• Proardeola — possibly same as Proardea

Other prehistoric and fossil species are included in the respective genus accounts

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

• McCracken, Kevin G. & Sheldon, Frederick H. (1998): Molecular and osteological heron phylogenies: sources of incongruence. Auk 115: 127–141. DjVu fulltext PDF fulltext
• Sheldon, Frederick H.; McCracken, Kevin G. & Stuebing, Keeley D. (1995): Phylogenetic relationships of the zigzag heron (Zebrilus undulatus) and white-crested bittern (Tigriornis leucolophus) estimated by DNA-DNA hybridization. Auk 112(3): 672-679. DjVu fulltext PDF fulltext
• Sheldon, Frederick H.; Jones, Clare E. & McCracken, Kevin G. (2000): Relative Patterns and Rates of Evolution in Heron Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA. Mol. Biol. Evol. 17(3): 437–450. PDF fulltext

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ardeidae

• HeronConservation Heron Specialist Group of IUCN
• Heron videos on the Internet Bird Collection

Simon Stephens
Born	1971
Occupation	Playwright
Nationality	British
Literature portal

Simon Stephens (born 1971) is an award winning English playwright. Having taught on the Young Writers' Programme at the Royal Court Theatre for many years he is now an Artistic Associate at the Lyric Hammersmith. His writing is characterised as part of in in-yer-face theatre generation and is not only widely performed in the UK but throughout Europe with several of his plays being premiered abroad. Along with Dennis Kelly he is one of the most performed English writers in Germany.

Early Life[link]

Originally from Stockport, Greater Manchester, he studied and graduated from the University of York.

He was a member of Scottish art punk band Country Teasers.

He lives in London with his wife and children.

Plays[link]

• Three Kingdoms (2011) premiered at Theatre NO99 in Tallinn, Estonia, directed by Sebastian Nübling^[1], English premiere at the Lyric Theatre (2012)^[2] | German premiere at the Munich Kammerspiele (2011)
• I Am The Wind (2011) translation of the Jon Fosse play premiered at the Young Vic, directed by Patrice Chéreau^[3]
• Wastwater (2011) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Katie Mitchell^[4]
• The Trial of Ubu (2010) premiered at the Toneelgroep in Amsterdam, (2012) English premiere at the Hampstead Theatre, directed by Katie Mitchell^[5]
• 'T5 (2010) premiered at the Traverse Theatre as part of Traverse Live!, directed by Dominic Hill^[6]
• A Thousand Stars Explode in the Sky (2010) written with David Eldridge and Robert Holman premiered at the The Lyric, directed by Sean Holmes^[7]
• Marine Parade (2010) with music by Mark Eitzel premiered at the Brighton Festival directed by Jo McInnes^[8]
• Punk Rock (2009) premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed by Sarah Frankcom^[9]
• Sea Wall (2008) premiered in the Broken Space Season at Bush Theatre, directed by George Perrin^[10]
• Pornography (2007) premiered at the Traverse Theatre directed by Sean Holmes^[11]
• Harper Regan (2007) premiered at the National Theatre, directed by Marianne Elliott^[12]
• Motortown (2006) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Ramin Gray^[13]
• On the Shore of the Wide World (2005) premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre, directed by Sarah Frankcom^[14]
• Country Music (2004) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Gordon Anderson^[15]
• Christmas (2004) premiered at the Bush Theatre, directed by Joanne McInnes^[16]
• One Minute (2003) premiered at the ATC, directed by Gordon Anderson^[17]
• Port (2002) premiered at the Royal Exchange, directed by Marianne Elliott^[18]
• Herons (2001) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Simon Usher^[19]
• Bluebird (1998) premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Gordon Anderson^[20]

Awards[link]

• Punk Rock nominated TMA Awards Best New Play 2010
  nominated Evening Standard Award Best New Play 2010
• Pornography won Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland Best New Play 2008
• On the Shore of The Wide World won Olivier Award Best New Play 2005
• Port won the Pearson Award Best New Play 2001

References[link]

Geva Alon
Background information
Also known as	גבע אלון
Born	(1979-05-30) May 30, 1979 (age 33)
Origin	Kibbutz Ma'abarot, Israel
Genres	Alternative rock, indie rock, folk rock, indie folk, acoustic rock, blues rock, country rock, psych folk, psychedelic rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, Musician
Instruments	Guitar, Vocals
Years active	2000–present
Website	Official website
Notable instruments
Fender Jazzmaster

Geva Alon (Hebrew: גבע אלון‎, born 30 May 1979) is an Israeli blues/folk/rock musician and singer-songwriter.

Biography[link]

Geva Alon was born and raised in Kibbutz Ma'abarot. He began playing guitar at the age of 12, and in the year 2000 became the founding member of the rock trio The Flying Baby which achieved relative success in Israel and while touring the US.^[1] The band released two albums: Inner World (2002) and Pain to Give (2004).

In 2004 he joined the Israeli indie rock singer, Shy Nobleman, with whom he played for 3 years. Alon contributed guitars, writing and vocals to Nobleman's "Beautiful Life" album and sang co-lead vocals on the radio hit ballad "Wonderful".

March 2006 saw his first solo album, Days of Hunger. Its acoustic country-flavored harmonies along with his distinct vocals and guitar made him a notable artist in Tel Aviv's folk indie scene.^[2]

Alon's Second solo release in 2007 The Wall of Sound included a cover version of David Bowie's "Modern Love", which became a major radio hit and enjoyed numerous placements as a cable television commercials soundtrack as well as broke through the charts on the major Israeli music radio station, Galgalatz.^[3]

Get Closer, Released in November 2009 and produced by the renowned Thom Monahan (Devendra Banhart, Vetiver, Silver Jews, Dinosaur Jr, Jayhawks), features Alon backed by the band Tree with a sound ranging from alternative rock to psychedelic guitars and Americana.^[4] Get Closer is Alon's most personal album yet, written after a long ten month tour in the United States that culminated with Alon’s performance at The Fillmore in Sept '08 in support of Paul Weller.^[5]

Known for his riveting live performances, Alon has played several coveted festival shows including support for Macy Gray in front of a crowd of 20,000 people (2009). His shows in support of Get Closer garnered high praise from Israeli rock critics.^[6]

On March 22–23, 2010, Geva Alon opened for Yo La Tengo at the trio's first appearance in Tel Aviv.^[7] He is also scheduled to play for Earth Day events in front of 100,000 people in Rabin's square in Tel Aviv.

On December 2, 2010, it was announced that Alon has signed a distribution deal with the label ADA Global to distribute his upcoming fourth album in Europe, upon release.^[8] Alon has celebrated the signing in a special show at the Barby club in Tel Aviv on January 7, 2011, which was followed by a short European tour from mid-January until February.

On March 10, 2011, it was announced that in April, Alon would be enetering Paco Loco Studios in Cadiz, Spain, with producer Thom Monahan with whom he worked on his 2009 album Get Closer, to record his fourth studio album. The album would be recorded with Vetiver members Otto Hauser (drums) and Daniel Hindman (guitar), and with Rufus Wainwright bassist Jeff Hill, instead of the usual backing band format Alon has used on his previous albums.^[9][10] In the mean time, Alon spent the summer of 2011 touring all over Europe promoting the European release of Get Closer and reaching wider audiences.^[11].

On October 27, 2011, Geva Alon has revealed the name of his fourth solo album to be In the Morning Light, through his Facebook page. He has also revealed the name of the first single off the album "I Wonder If She's Fine", with the expected release date of October 30, 2011.^[12]

Discography[link]

The Flying Baby[link]

• Inner World, 2002
• Pain to Give, 2004

Solo Albums[link]

• Days of Hunger, 2006
• The Wall of Sound, 2007
• Get Closer, 2009
• In the Morning Light, 2011

Contributions and Collaborations[link]

• Beautiful Life, Shy Nobleman, 2005
• Adult Dreams, Arkadi Duchin, 2006
• Before I go to Sleep, Yaara Eilon, 2007
• How to miss the ground, Juviley, 2007
• A Tin Man's Love, Boaz Banai, 2008
• Self Titled, Ronit Kano, 2008
• New Directions, Gadi Altman, 2008
• Self Titled E.P., Yifat Ben Dror, 2008
• The Walking Man, The Walking Man, 2009
• Live At The Zappa, Amir Lev, (with Berry Sakharof), 2010
• All That Is Human, Eran Zur, 2010
• Another Passenger, Sagol 59, 2011

References[link]

External links[link]

• Myspace Page
• Official Blog
• Geva Alon at CD Baby
• Geva Alon at MOOMA (Hebrew)
• Geva Alon at Musica Neto (Hebrew)
• Geva Alon's Youtube Channel
• Geva Alon on Facebook
• Julia Maehner, The Song, The Story, Rolling Stone Germany, 15.7.2011
• Daniel Koch, Geva Alon - "Get Closer", Rolling Stone Germany, 06.05.2011