People who have seen this prior to publishing seem to think, with documentation, this bird may be almost ready to lay an egg.

If so she better find a place to land quickly. However I think it’s too early, they breed in April/May not January.
Actually I’m just happy to get these shots. Black-crowned Night Herons are very fast and usually shots like these are not very good.

In the above you can still see some feathers from her full torso.
You be the judge, we will never really know. Makes a good story though.