In early February rumors began circulating about a Great Blue Heron rookery in a beaver pond being destroyed. Further investigation determined that someone wielding a chainsaw had cut down trees containing 20 nests in a productive 25 year old heronry in the Town of Hartwick, NY. No one knows why was this was done or who did it. The common reaction to this vandalism was puzzlement and anger.
We immediately began discussing ways to mitigate the damage before the herons returned. We were fortunate that one of the parcels with destroyed nests belonged to Larry and Barbara Preston. They welcomed our proposal to build nesting structures on their property. After a quick, emergency authorization by the Board of Directors to spend $1600, we scrambled to get parts, materials and volunteers organized. We needed to act quickly. The platforms had to be built before the herons returned in late winter. The warm winter weather also threatened the ice on which we needed to work. Thankfully, it stayed cold enough.
On March 1, 30 volunteers turned out on a snowy winter morning to help rebuild the rookery. There were DOAS members, local fishermen, members of the Adirondack Mountain Club, a professional wildlife educator, staff and students from Hartwick College, neighbors of the rookery, and people involved in the local tourist industry. Regular people who were outraged by this senseless act came out and pitched in. It was a great turnout by a broad cross section of the community.
We encourage anyone who lives in the area to check these structures regularly during the winter. If there is another attempt to destroy this colony, it is most likely to happen in winter while ice is on the pond. Our best chance of identifying the vandal will be right after the damage occurs. Please do not trespass to check on the nest platforms. The pond is totally private. Before leaf out, the structures can be seen through the trees from Towers Road, just west of Seminary Road in the center of the east end of the pond. The thin pipes make them somewhat difficult to spot. Look for the tripods with the nests on them.
The Board of Directors thanks everyone who contributed to this project. Its success is now up to the herons.
Tom Salo, President
March 2, 2008
Volunteers carry steel onto the ice while property owner Larry Preston snowblows a path. |
John and Rita Salo measure hole locations with Dave Kiehm (with auger). |
The work crew at the project site. |
Lifting the tripod so the poles can be placed in holes through the ice. |
A tripod set in place. |
Stephen Rice (L) and Charlie Scheim (R) help Fred Johnson attach horizontal supports for the side nests. |
Sandy Bright (L) and Barbara Marsala gather sticks for nest foundations. |
Larry Preston, Mike Stensland and Dave Kiehm (L to R) making nest foundations. |
Dwaine Sharratt working on a nest. |
3 of 4 nests done. |
One of the few remaining original nests in the rookery. |
Nesting structures completed. |
| photos by Gerianne Carillo | |
Here are links to more great pictures from the heron workday:
Gerianne's (includes larger versions of the photos on this page) and
Fred's.