Since spring is in the air, I decided to stick with last week’s theme on nesting in my local city of Richmond, VA. Unbeknownst to many people, including myself just a few years ago, the Richmond area is home to two large Great Blue Heron rookeries. Some biologists and wildlife experts have even gone so far as to call the nesting grounds “Richmond’s great hidden treasure.”
Great Blue Herons at the Richmond Rookery.
By: Mary Elfner, From: http://birds.audubon.org
On an island in the James River, just west of the 14th street bridge, about 40 pairs of Great Blue Herons congregate to build nests and raise their chicks. Even a few pairs of Great Egrets nest in this area as well. Richmond City’s Great Blue Heron rookery is particularly unique because it is located in an urban setting, and herons are known for being shy birds that like to stay far away from people. However, the Richmond rookery is in a fairly isolated location along the Pipeline Rapids. The Pipeline Trail following the bank of the James offers a great view of the nests, but the rocky island itself is not easy for people to reach, making it tolerable for the herons.
Pipeline Rapids in downtown Richmond, VA.
By: Phil Riggan, From: http://rotj.wordpress.com
Wildlife experts are pleased that the nesting grounds continue to grow each year. According to them, the presence of the herons shows that the James River is becoming a healthier habitat once again, providing enough fish to sustain the parents and their chicks.
This is a video of the Great Blue Herons’ full nesting cycle from last year. You can see the pools, streams, and rushing rapids for fishing as well as the trees that provide such a great habitat for the birds.
The other heron rookery is located in the Dutch Gap Conservation area in Chesterfield County. The nesting grounds can be found along the original James River channel and are accessible through Henricus Historical Park. Dutch Gap’s 840 acres of tree-lined lagoons and tidal basins are closer to what we tend to think of as prime habitat for the Great Blue Heron. While this rookery started small years ago, it has since grown to over 60 nests.
Friends of the James River and the Richmond Audubon Society have partnered to provide rookery tours on Saturdays this spring. Even though March is gone now, there are still plenty of opportunities to see the Great Blue Herons in April. If you live in the greater Richmond area, this would be a wonderful outing for families or for nature-lovers. The tour guides suggest bringing along water, binoculars, and a good telephoto lens for your camera. You can find a calendar of various tours at this link.
Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think in the comments. I hope all of you are having the same gorgeous spring weather that we’re having right now and that your allergies aren’t too bad.
One Species at a Time 