St. Martin’s Heron and Its Clever Toe

Did you know this bird has a built-in comb? The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is usually active at night, and you may have seen it around St. Martin’s ponds, or spotted in the Great Salt Pond Birding Platform. Like many herons, it has a special middle toe with tiny “teeth” that help it groom its feathers, scratch itches, and maybe even remove parasites. On St. Martin, it’s called the Night Gaulin or Crabier, local names that reflect the island’s unique culture. It’s just one of many surprising stories hiding in plain sight around the island. Check out Les Fruits de Mer for more highlights just like this one.