This week’s adventure involved a short road trip south of the Kawarthas to visit a heron rookery.

Great blue herons nest in colonies called rookeries. These colonies can consist of anywhere from a few nests to several hundred in a really large rookery. The biggest one I have seen in the Kawarthas was about 70 nests. The herons nest in colonies, mainly for protection. There is strength in numbers for spotting and fending off predators and intruders like eagles, hawks and raccoons. 

The colony life also makes it easier to find mates and to construct nests and find feeding areas. The birds can follow each other to feeding spots as well as areas to gather nesting materials. And if that doesn’t work you can always steal a stick or two from the neighbour’s nest when they aren’t there. I have heard people say animals don’t lie, cheat or steal but I have........

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