Will the Herons Return to Nest?

For many years, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets and Double Crested Cormorants have been nesting in three eucalyptus trees at the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Plant. The nesting area is not visible to the public from the Ellis Creek trails because the birds prefer the south, more protected, less windy side of the trees.  Unfortunately, the winds were not kind to the birds this past December.  The middle, and the largest of the trees was blown over during a ferocious windstorm.   Pictured above is the pile of logs that remains from the tree.

When the landscaping crew cleaned up the area, they saved one of the nests.  Long time bird monitor Len Nelson can be seen in the next photo with the very large, saved nest.  We surmise it is a Great Blue Heron nest.  That’s amazing construction!