Great Blue Heron Rookery

Written on March 2, 2008 – 10:57 pm | by Mike |

A couple of Great Blue Herons nesting in Bimini Bay have produced 3 chicks this season. These are the first to appear out of 6 7 active nests. The most popular spot for the rookery is high up in an Australian Pine tree bordering Fiske Bayou. Two nests are in other pine trees across the bayou.

The Australian Pine has been demonized as an exotic, invasive species in Florida, condemned because it crowds out native undergrowth, has shallow roots, and ostensibly is prone to blow over in strong winds. It is the target of systematic removal by the local authorities. In this location it appears to be the tree of choice for these nesting herons, and has been for several years.

Another nearby heron nest, which was built on low growing mangroves, was abandoned soon after starting, possibly due to disturbance by the presence of boats and fishermen. Mangroves are a protected from trimming and removal.

The new chicks appear to be healthy and active, and constantly fed by their parents. Bait fish seem abundant and the herons are apparently hunting successfully.

Even though the chicks are moving around frequently, they will not be ready to fledge for at least another month.

The other nests do not have any visible chick activity yet.

Update March 5: 2 more chicks have popped into view, in 2 separate nests.

Tags: Environment, Wildlife

Great Blue Heron Rookery - Fledglings

The 3 Great Blue Heron chicks that we referred to in the story Great Blue Heron Rookery have now fledged and left the nest. In the past week, first one, then two, and finally the third have taken short departures from

Binoculars As Digital Camera Telephoto Lens

Here's how to use your binoculars to take excellent distant photos without an expensive camera and telephoto lens. I have an aging Canon PowerShot Digital ELPH camera which takes great pictures but has only a 2X optical zoom and 6X

Obituaries

Dahlia C. Barreda Dahlia C. Barreda, 71, of Tampa and formerly Bradenton Beach, died Jan 9. Mrs. Barreda was a Florida native. She and her family moved to Bradenton Beach in the early 1970s, and she was elected to the city

C&C Marina Becomes Bradenton Boat Club

The new Bradenton Boat Club marina and boat condominium is emerging from the former C&C Marina in Cortez. Construction is progressing on 3 buildings that will accommodate 272 boats in dry storage, and 10 wet slips. The $17 million boat

Obituaries

Marion L. MacVicar Marion L. MacVicar, of Kalamazoo, Mich., and formerly Holmes Beach, died Dec 30. Mrs. MacVicar was born in Altmont, Mich., and spent most of her adult life in Flint, Mich. She retired to Florida in 1980, then moved

Manatee County Fair January 17 -27

The 2008 Annual Manatee County Fair will be held Jan 17 -27 at the Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto. Attractions include: Livestock shows Food stalls Exhibits Daily entertainment: All American High Dive Show Robinson's Racing Pigs Grandpa Cratchet show Ed & Geraldine Old-Time Music the Great American

The Bridge to Old Florida is Open Again

Anna Maria Island seems to have survived the closure of one of its three bridges for 37 days. The maintenance and repair job was done faster than the projected 45-day project that had been planned. As islanders heave a

Permit For Holmes Beach Hotel ?

Back in 2001, a former landmark restaurant "Pete Renard's", and briefly "Marina Bay", lay abandoned and deteriorating in the heart of Holmes Beach. Opposite the main mall Island Shopping Center, and sitting on prime waterfront with boat canals and docks,

2 Responses to “Great Blue Heron Rookery”
By windyridge on May 25, 2008 | Reply

We have many here and they often land on pond and do a little fishing. Up at our cabin on Black Lake in Northern New York we had one fly not more then a few yards in front of us. That was the closest I’ve ever been to a Great Blue!

1 Trackback(s)
Apr 21, 2008: Great Blue Heron Rookery - Fledglings | Anna Maria Island News

Anna Maria Island News