2003-04-02 P&R - Laserfiche WebLink

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. ~.~ THE PELTIER LAKE HERONRY, 2002 AND BEYOND JUNE 15,2002 ART HAWKINS Six great blue herons had arrived this year by March 19 along Rice Creek below Peltier Lake dam where it was ice free. By March 30 at least 5 pairs of herons were standing on nests of Peltier Island but a 5 inch snowfall on April 3 caused the birds to return to the open water of Rice o Creek. They had returned to their nests by April 7in greater numbers than before the snow. I counted 73 herons-at nests on Apri11Z'but no egretsyet:- 0- _ . '. ~ ". :"' ..__. _ _. _ _.. ICe-out on most local lakes occurred on April 14 and the next day I saw 15 egrets at nests . '" at the colony. At least 20 egrets were standing Em'nests: by:4/18 when the temp reached 86 degrees. Eight herons came to the "stick field" for nest repair materials. Then, on 4/21 another major snowstorm made this the snowiest April on record. On April 30, Gordy Brandsriess and I checked the heronry from 8:15-9:15 AM. Only 3 herons came to the stick field but unusually large numbers were flying from or coming to the heronry. Only one egret was seen during the hoUr. ~ On May 3 fishermen motored to the bog-stick:s narrows then cut the motor and drifted, casting toward shore along the north shore of the island but caused no noticeable reaCtion from the birds. I could see maybe 20 herons and 2 or 3 egrets at nests. Steve Kittleson flew by on regular count. Eagle on nest and two swans flew into North Arm of the lake from the south. ..- On 5/4 at 1 PM, I received a call from Ron Marier reporting a motor boat circling Peltier island. I notified Joan Galli who picke~ me up and we joined Ron at the lookout on his property where he described the boat's activity. We could see perhaps 30 herons at nests but none came ror sticks during our stay. From the west side we could see herons but no egrets at nests. A peregrine flew by as we entered the Wargo east gate. On 5/9 from 9:30 - 10:00 AM we saw no herons come to sticks and only a couple flying out. However it was very windy. Onmafj3,from 7:20 - 8:20 AM, 3 herons came for sticks, 6 herons flew into or out from the heroIlI)"'Ymore distant points and 16 herons were counted on nest. Brief sleet shower with temp. around 40 degrees. Two eagles flew over the island. It was apparent that the egrets had deserted the heronry. On April 18 when Jennifer Amee from the Bell Museum visited the heronry with me I thought that nest repair process was starting. On Earth Day, April 22, the herons lan~~1j{l~ stick area at the rate of one per minute. On April 26, Joan Gilbertson and Joe Berglowe,'fetr/ Perry, Ron Marier and Steve Kittleson joined me for pictures of the heronry from Marier's look.,-