Blue Herons in the Rookery

The Red Barn Preserve is home to a Blue Heron Rookery.  This Rookery is just one of a few in the North Country.  There are over 60 nests at this location.  The nests can be seen from a boardwalk along pond #3 about 1/4 mile from the entrance to the Preserve. 

Each year the blue herons arrive in March and proceed to occupy a nest.  Its first come first served.  They select a mate- and it can be a different one each year.- breed, lay eggs, and raise the babies over a couple of months.  By mid July - they leave the nests and do not return until the following year.

The Rookery can be observed from about 800 feet away.  Bring binoculars and appropriate clothing for the weather.  It is advisable to wear water proof shoes in the spring. 

Greg Perry visited The Red Barn Preserve on June 7th and took the 4 amazing pictures of young blue herons in the nest.  These are the best pictures we have in our collection

The last picture was taken June 18th and shows how fast the birds are growing.  Every bird in this picture was born this year.  Even  more surprising is the nest are occupied by as many as 3 birds.  Some of the articles published about Blue Herons suggested that often times- only one bird will survive and the siblings get booted out of the nest and die.  That does not appear to be the case with our birds.

Update:  It is now July 18th and we are rapidly approaching the end of the nesting period for our Herons.  The young birds are large enough to fly and sadly the number of birds at the Red Barn Preserve grows smaller each day.  By the end of July they will be pretty much gone.