I know it’s way too early to start thinking about spring but if you were at Farmington Bay with me this evening that’s exactly what would have been going through your mind.
It sure was all I could think about this evening as I enjoyed the sunshine and watched numerous great blue herons squabbling over their chosen nesting platforms on the rookery.
The geese calling, swans whooting, and red-winged blackbirds singing in the background only added to the mood I might add.
Earlier this morning, I counted 24 great blue herons on the rookery so their nesting season seems to be starting up at Farmington Bay WMA.
Great blue herons are colony nesting birds, preferring to nest high up off the ground to keep away from predators such as raccoons and foxes, and the rookery structure at Farmington Bay is perfect for the job.
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Years ago, old cottonwood-type trees line part of Farmington Bay and offered a natural heron rookery location, but it is believed beavers took their toll on the trees as they eventually fell over and the rookery was lost.
Great blue herons will nest on the ground if needed but it’s not an ideal place for them to raise their young.
Hopefully, and with some help from the public chiming in and voicing support to the Utah DWR, a second great blue heron rookery can be added at Farmington Bay this summer along the nature trail.
Anyone wanting to voice their support for a second great blue heron rookery can email Billy Fenimore, the manager at the Eccles Wildlife Center, and let their thoughts be known.
The current great blue heron rookery is due for some maintenance and was scheduled to receive some new nesting platforms and perches this winter, but the project had to be put on hold until after the breeding season due to the coronavirus.
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From what I observed today, the great blue heron rookery bird-watching season is now upon us it seems and the rookery is very easily viewed from the Eccles Wildlife Center parking lot or the nature trail that goes around the west side of the pond.
The attatched video was recorded today on the nature trail west of the rookery.
Keep up with what’s going on with the great blue heron rookery and Farmington Bay by heading over to our subscribe page and signing up for email notifications for future blog posts.
I plan on blogging more about the rookery this spring and summer, especially as breeding season progress and heron chicks are in the nest.
Having such a structure so close to urban life where visitors, bird watchers, photographers, or just anyone curious about nature can come and get a glimpse of the miracle of birdlife during breeding season is priceless.
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We are very fortunate to have such a great nature amenity so close to civilization and yet so active and productive in raising great blue herons.
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