Nesting Great Blue Herons Fascinating And Accessible

Sun., March 21, 1999

Great blue herons, one of Washington’s largest year-round resident bird species, began congregating at traditional nesting sites in February.

At 4 feet tall, with 6-foot wingspans, these birds are hard to miss, especially when dozens gather at “rookeries” or communal nesting areas.

These long-necked, long-legged, long-billed wading birds breed and nest into April and May across the state.

They are particularly easy to see before the leaves unfold on the deciduous trees that usually hold their nests.

Heron rookeries are often seen in clusters of tall cottonwoods or other trees along waterways or wetlands. Huge nests of sticks are used year after year, with a few additions and rearrangements made each season.

The exchange of nest sticks between pairs of herons is a mating ritual worth watching.

Despite their formidable size, herons are shy birds that can be vulnerable to human disturbance. When visiting a rookery, such as the ones along the lower Little Spokane River, keep a distance by using binoculars, scopes, and telephoto camera lenses. Be quiet, move slowly and leave pets at home.

Here are some of the most accessible great blue heron rookeries in Washington:

* Little Spokane River Natural Area, northwest of Spokane; rookery is above the river about half-mile from trailhead on Rutter Parkway.

* Potholes Wildlife Area south of Moses Lake in Grant County; rookery is near northeast arm of Potholes Reservoir (also communal nest sites of other herons, egrets, and cormorants).

* Vancouver Lake/Shillapoo Wildlife Area, one of the largest rookeries in the region, is northwest of Vancouver and south of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Clark County.

* Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, northeast of Olympia in Thurston County; rookery is on McAllister Creek, where bald eagles also nest and sometimes quarrel with herons.

* Reed Island State Park southeast of Washougal in Clark County; rookery can be seen from a walking trail on a dike along the Columbia River.

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