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A great blue heron rookery may be more dependent on a good, nearby source of food than ideal trees. The Turtle Journal team discovered a major great blue heron ( Ardea herodias ) rookery (heronry) this afternoon, April 2nd alongside a fresh water pond in Marion on the South Coast of Massachusetts. The first specimen we spotted (shown above) stood still and tall in a completed nest atop pine tree abutting the lake. Our first four Guided Walks were great! Three heron rookeries in Middleton continue after 15 years to be places of great interest. Number observed: 12. When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". We especially liked Rubbish Meadow with its Great Blue Heron rookery and other nesting birds. Are you submitting a complete checklist of the birds you were able to identify?Yes You can also email Mary Elfner, or James River Park. I go most every year in search of nesting herons. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. May 18, 2012 Babies can be seen on the nests at the Great Blue Heron Rookery at Carter Fields in North Andover. All rights reserved. The oldest rookery above the Pond Meadow Pond beaver inundation now has forty two. Baby great blue herons fill up a nest as a parent looks on. Once a rare sight in the northeast US due to hunting pressure and pollution, great blue herons have staged a staggering comeback in the past few decades. Made possible by support from Dominion Resources, May 15, 2011: Bonus Video 12 Week Summary, To view additional Photos and Videos in our Archives, click. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals. From Route 62, opposite Ball Hill Road, look for the trail sign and cross the stone wall onto Midstate Trail which is blazed with yellow triangles (not to be confused with yellow circles). When heading east on Route 62, Ball Hill Road will be on the right 2.0 miles from the junction of Routes 62 and 68. 140 south for 1.8 miles to a blinking yellow light. At last count several years ago the aerial village on a forested knoll surrounded by man-flooded Emerson Bog had about 40 nests. Great Blue Heron Rookery in Wrentham, MA I had the opportunity to explore the Wollomonopoag Conservation Area that is just outside of Franklin, MA and is the home to a relatively large great blue heron rookery. Chances are, if someone sees a heron up Brush Creek or Cement Creek or elsewhere in Gunnison County, it's coming back here, he said. It has been here for years. At first, the young are nearly helpless, and both parents are kept busy supplying them with regurgitated food. As you can see there are more questions than answers, especially for us very amateur naturalists who neither radio-tag birds to follow their travels nor send peeping Tom drones above their nests. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Mostly cloudy skies. to Ware River on 6/10/2001, Midstate Trail, Fern Forest Trail, Pasture Trail, Heron Rookery Trail. Heron Rookery Trail. 62 west for 0.6 mile, and you will see the sanctuary sign on the right at Goodnow Road. All isnt pleasant in human terms below the sunlit villages above. We brought a picnic, and a football to throw around on the top of Holt hill. The Heron Rookery Trail follows along a portion of the Little Calumet River that once featured over 100 Great Blue Heron nests. After 0.1 mile, bear straight/right at a junction. read more. Midstate Trail, Fern Forest Trail, Pasture Trail, Heron Rookery Trail: Region: MA - Central North Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary: Location: Princeton, MA: Rating: Easy : Features: Pond, wetlands: Distance: 1.6 miles : . Victims of a push and fall are probably quickly eaten by scavengers. From Route 114 looking southwest across the bushy reservoir we can see but a few nests in the oaks and pines of the Emerson Bog rookery.. This blog brings you information on both real estate and local area happenings. Great Blue Heron babies stretch their legs and wings in the nest. It's not a difficult hike at all, so you will be fine with young kids. The chicks I saw were only about as . 15.4K subscribers We went back to The Heron Rookery (June 22, 2019) at Wollomonopoag in Wrentham Massachusetts to see the Baby Herons being fed by their Parents. Learn more. Drop it in a box at beginning of trail. Turn right to follow Pasture Trail which is still also Midstate Trail. Better still let the quickly moving spring fires run their courses where no houses are threatened. 31 south for 3.9 miles to a blinking red light. Usually four eggs are laid, and, after about 28 days, the hatchlings emerge. The rookery is agog with usually 40+ nests. Follow Rt. The map shown with this attraction is of the Frances Crane WMA in Falmouth MA not the Crane Pond $3 for nonmember children (3-12) and seniors. Hiding a checklist will exclude the taxa on it from all forms of eBird output that show a location (including bar charts, maps, and arrival/departure tables), but the observation will still be accessible to you, and will appear on your lists. Young herons are able to fly in about 60 days. Park on Route 62, off the pavement, across the street from Ball Hill Road (facing in the correct direction for that side of the road), being careful not to block access to the nearby driveway. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. ) Within a few minutes we were able to identify at least six (6) herons roosting on nests within about an acre immediately adjacent to the far side of this small pond. We could only distinguish nests and birds near the pond; there could have been numerous other nests hidden from view. Behind Home Depot in Seekonk, Bristol County, Massachusetts, US on Sun Mar 27, 2022, Behind Home Depot in Seekonk, Bristol County, Massachusetts, US, Another location near Behind Home Depot in Seekonk, Bristol County, Massachusetts, US on Sun Mar 27, 2022, Another location near Behind Home Depot in Seekonk, Bristol County, Massachusetts, US. Wider trails have some bike traffic, but I only run into a one or two bikers during my walk. The young do not breed until they are at least two years old. Both comments and pings are currently closed. Last week two girl scouts doing a project netted a dozen insect and crustacean species from the leaf-littered bottom water below the southwest Middleton Pond rookery where at least seven herons had returned. Heron's Nests There are between 40. . The rookery is agog with usually 40+ nests. The Great Blue Heron know to make downtown Richmond their home, must be something to it. On a check a few days later Stream Teamer Red Caulfield found the rookery strangely quiet, no herons were to be seen or heard. 140, Sterling/W. 31, Fitchburg/Princeton). Not sure the difficulty of any of these other trails. Simon Tracy and his family were some of the earliest local settlers of Yokuntown (now incorporated as Richmond), and they operated a sawmill along the brook. We dont know the mortality rate of vulnerable chicks in such high open penthouses without guardrails. The water at times is a soup of microorganisms and of those that graze on them and so on up food chains. Precipitation Data* October 30-Year Normal (1981 - 2010) Inches: 4.40 2015 Central Watershed Actual: 3.11 November 30-Year Normal (1981 - 2010) Inches: 4.55 2015 Central Watershed Actual: 2.49 December 30-Year Normal (1981 - 2010) Inches: 4.12 2015 Central Watershed Actual: 4.72 January 30-Year Normal (1981 - 2010) Inches: 3.40 2016 Central Watershed Actual: 2.5**as of Jan. 18 Ipswich R. Flow Rate for Jan. 11 (S. Middleton USGS Gage) in Cubic Feet/ Second (CFS): Normal: 52 CFS Current Rate: 64 CFS *Danvers Water Filtration Plant, Lake Street, Middleton is the source for actual precipitation data thru Dec. **Middleton Stream Team is source of actual precipitation data for Jan. Normals data is from the National Climatic Data Center. Disponible tanto para licencias RF como para las licencias RM. In the summer evenings, it's common to find yourself listening to the sounds of hooting owls. Great blue herons are solitary birds except at rookeries. Eventually, small fish are simply deposited in the nest for the chicks to pick up. The Philadelphia Inquirer, Eagle Tribune Carrier Route Opportunities, Parenting before politics for Valerie Sununu, Mayor joined by councilors, other city workers , Resilience personified! Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary trail map, Wachusett Mtn. 31 and Rt. At around 90 days, they become independent and disperse throughout New England and beyond. Provisional species count in official eBird totals. Boylston). The coniferous trees surrounding the upper Slate River house a. Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), a relative newcomer to this 60 year old Great Blue Heron rookery, continued to build nests in 2002. Maybe a canoe trip before the oak leaves come out will reveal this springs number. Low 23F. By day, you're sure to find many varieties of meadow birds including a growing flock of North American Blue Birds. Do not bring motorized vehicles or bicycles onto the site. Turtle Journal usually works along side these magnificent birds during the summer as we do our marine turtle research in the salt marshes of Cape Cod and the South Coast. Its a rare treat to find a great blue heron rookery so close to home base. Hopefully, well be able to document hatching and then fledging of the next generation of great blues. Please call Audubons Important Bird Area Program (804) 788-7660, or The James River Park System office (804) 646-8911 for more information. Naturalized: Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). Drones, now so common at least on TV, remind us of a tragedy at the Pond Meadow Pond rookery several years ago. Photo by Steven H. Robinson. Turn right on Goodnow Road, and the parking lot is 1 mile ahead on the left. About Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary Property Use Guidelines, Driving Directions to Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, More Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary Trail Reports, Actual vs. Share this page's content on a social network. They are also great as a tote for your hiking boots and other gear. An impressive heron rookery has taken over a small island on Weston Station Pond, with a lot of activity apparent on June 17, 2021. This is an interesting and demanding urban preserve. 190, take exit 5 (Rt. Hidden away north of the highway is a great blue heron rookery, a collection of huge stick nests where pairs of herons are busy raising young. I have counted over 20 heron's nests and 1 osprey nest. Play sudoku, the daily jigsaw, word search and more. Baby great blue herons sit on the nest with a parent at the Carter Fields Rookery in North Andover. Turn left onto Pasture Trail / Midstate Trail and follow it for 0.3 mile, passing Rock Fire Pond en route. Ward reservation is a sprawling range of mixed wood forests, rolling hills and scenic views. Be careful at this junction because Fern Forest Trail also goes to the left. Are you sure you want to hide these observations? Every late winter and early spring, the Rookery provides essential breeding and nesting habitat for approximately 40 Great Blue Herons and a few pairs of Great Egrets. I go most every year in search of nesting herons. 140 north for 2.4 miles to the intersection of Rt. The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS (MAR) reported yesterday that closed sales were down from the same time last year, however the New Listing in Franklin, MA - Colonial in Dover Farms, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS Reports on February 2014 Sales, Recycling Events and Earth Day 2014 in Franklin, Community Spotlight: Drama Kids of Metro West. After about 0.15 mile, you will see Rock Fire Pond on the left with a viewing bench on the right side of the trail. Watch out for beavers! We just visit now and then to marvel at the huge birds comings and goings. They fly quite far afield in search of food during the breeding season, and can often be seen flying at sunrise or sunset on huge, ponderous wings, with their long legs trailing behind and their necks curled back to tuck their head above their shoulders. Review of Crane Pond Wildlife Management Area Reviewed June 7, 2017 and stay for the verdant spring and summer wildlife. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Quick Facts Location: Michigan City, IN Amenities 4 listed Heron Rookery Trail 3.3 miles, 12 feet of elevation gain, 0% average grade, 1% maximum grade Hike time: 2 hours The Heron Rookery Trail follows along a portion of the Little Calumet River that once featured over 100 Great Blue Heron nests. Let the rookeries of the world including those of humans again be without frightening machines carrying bombs and cameras. Baby great blue herons stretch their wings in the nest as a parent stands watch at the edge. Active beaver dams, which form a wetland complex ranging from open water to forested swamp. When heron monitoring by the city began in 2003, there were still eight active nests. Highly recommend if your in the area and looking for something to do. Provisional: Either: 1) member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2) rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible. Great Blue Heron numbers are stable and increased in the U.S. between 1966 and 2019, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. The James River Great Blue Heron Rookery is located just west of the 14th Street Bridge in Richmond, Virginia, on a large island. It has been here for years. Follow Rt. With John Ogle, WCVE-FM Do they remember which nest is theirs? This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The parents had gone, no doubt spooked by the roar of the helicopters. The rookeries are quiet places early on. Will newcomers claim unoccupied nests or build anew? After 0.2 mile on Fern Forest Trail / Midstate Trail you will reach a junction where Fern Forest Trail ends and Pasture Trail goes in two directions. When heading west on Route 62, Ball Hill Road will be on the left 2.3 miles after the junction with Routes 62 and 31. Instead, there is a pull-off from the road where you can take in the scope of the sanctuary, including a large heron rookery. Their impressive size and graceful flight have won them many admirers. They nest from southeastern Alaska and central Canada, south through Florida and Mexico. 31 south for 2.8 miles to a steep hill and a blinking yellow light (center of Princeton). You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. This is an interesting and demanding urban preserve. The stream that gave the sanctuary its name has been home to industrious beavers for more than 50 years. Upon return the birds add sticks to the nests on which they raised a family the year before. The hike up to the summit where the solstice rocks are located is rather short and pretty easy. The trailhead is found by walking just a bit up the dirt driveway, and then turning left onto the Midstate Trail. 2023 www.wickedlocal.com. Subscribe to our e-news for the latest events, updates and info. Nice walks, get great view of ponds, mostly flat. New Listing: 28 Koshivas Drive, Franklin MA (MLS# April Vacation Franklin, MA Area Activities. Ornithologist Jim Berry says four eggs per nest per parent couple are usually laid. When observing the rookery, please keep in mind the 1000-foot disturbance buffer zone. It is worth returning to in other seasons. Encuentre mosca de accin la fotografa, imagen, vector, ilustracin o imagen a 360 grados perfectos. 31 and go up the hill to a flashing yellow light (center of Princeton). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Great blue herons are very tall birds (about 4 feet! more. What common skinny eight-pound, four-foot tall, croaky animals are now back at their reproductive sites here? I go most every year in search of nesting herons. Learn more. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. and stay for the verdant spring and summer wildlife. The entire property is large and there are opportunities for much more walking and hiking.I wish everyone who pick up their dog's poop - not just pick it off the ground but also take their bag of dog poop with them.The view from the top to to south and east on a clear day is unrivaled.It does cost $5 to park for non-members of the Trustees. The most common place to find great blue herons is at the edge of a wetland, where they will stand stock-still, tracking the movements of fish and frogs and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I had a great visit to Holt Hill today, taking a hike with my son and dog. Tracy Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Richmond is a wetland surrounded by woodlands. Continue for another 0.15 on Pasture Trail / Midstate Trail. Park on Route 62, off the pavement, across the street from Ball Hill Road, being careful not to block access to the nearby driveway. Donations to Mass Audubon are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law. This whitewash - along with dropped dead and rotting fish - produces an odor not soon forgotten by those adventurous . From now on well visit each week to see the increase in returnees and wonder at their noisy antics in the air and on perches around the nests. Please check the links below to get the latest status, closures, and alerts regarding forest roads, trails, and campgrounds. Typical Hiking Times and Outing Durations. We only went up holt hill, but there are diffrent trails all over the place that i cant wait to explore. The conservation area has several lovely trails to be enjoyed throughout the seasons. DIVISION 1 BASKETBALL: Andino explodes for 21; Methuen boys take first tourney step. We hiked for about 4 miles on a warm day, then headed off to North Andover for a late lunch. A Great Blue Heron exhibits mating signs on approach of another. A Great Blue Heron stands on the edge of the nest watching over its brood. Lets do some estimates of each years production of young in these three nurseries of about 100 nests active from mid-March to August. Great blue herons are very tall birds (about 4 feet! Two days later roughly ten herons were seen through old cataract-y eyes on nests above Pond Meadow Pond. The familiar Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America. Turn left at the light and follow Rt. The return of beavers to Massachusetts, as well as more stringent protection of both the herons themselves and the wetlands they depend on,resulted in a huge upsurge in heron numbers. Great Blue Heron. If you want to reference some content on this site, please link to us. For your safety and to avoid conflicts with wildlife, we ask that you please: Subscribe to our e-news for the latest events, updates and info. The information on this site may freely be used for personal purposes but may not be replicated on other websites or publications. They are almost always spotted alone when hunting. The image of a second and then a third heron emerged from the camouflage of nearby trees. (Click on the above photograph to enlarge. Great Park, usually quiet with multiple trails, great if you are looking for a nice walk with or without a dog. Follow Heron Rookery Trail downhill for almost 0.2 mile on a narrow path which will bring you right to the edge of a large wetland area with a viewing bench. A Glimpse of Nature - Great Blue Heron See what's happening on the grounds of the Ames Free Library or nearby areas with "A Glimpse of Nature." Offered by Lorraine Rubinacci, the library's resident naturalist, this weekly photo blog is a gentle reminder to enjoy the wonders that surround us. It will be considered not public in the eBird database since we cannot approve bird records without accurate location information. I have counted over 20 heron's nests and 1 osprey nest. Only the pure white great egret approaches this stature among other Massachusetts birds. Herons typically use the same rookery every year until eventually the trees collapse. Brookline, Massachusetts 584 248 check out the Great Blue Heron rookery Review of Ward Reservation Reviewed June 11, 2017 This is an interesting and demanding urban preserve. 2 take exit 28 (Rt. Nesting Great Blue Herons stand about their nest. The eggs of some magnificent birds are beginning to hatch on a small island in the James. 62 west by crossing the intersection and bearing right (follow the road as it curves right on the far side of the common after the light). We hiked for about 4 miles on a warm day, then headed off to North Andover for a late lunch. Learn more in our Breeding Bird Atlas 2. Each March the answer is great blue heron, Ardea herodias. Local birders said they're surprised. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. I had the opportunity to explore the Wollomonopoag Conservation Area that is just outside of Franklin, MA and is the home to a relatively large great blue heron rookery. This spring and summer, visit local rookeries especially where beavers have drowned pines and nests are clearly seen. In the midst of the City of Richmond, the James River hosts a unique natural wonder in its Great Blue Heron Rookery located just west of the 14th Street Bridge. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Great Blue Herons are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Windy with occasional snow showers. Its numbers diminished in New England for a while, but have rebounded in the last few decades. Great blue herons feed mainly on fish, but their diet also includes, crabs, insects, frogs, snakes, salamanders, grasshoppers, dragonflies, aquatic insects, and, occasionally, small rodents. The map shown with this attraction is of the Frances Crane WMA in Falmouth MA not the Crane Pond and stay for the verdant spring and summer wildlife. The great blue heron is widespread and common, typically found near water. In a typical brood, only two young survive. The great blue heron ( Ardea herodias) is a large wading bird that stands about four feet tall. A Great Blue Heron stands at the edge of its nest. Using 3-inch-wide, silver mylar tape (found with the crepe paper in party-supply stores) crisscross the pond a number of times, securing the tape to the stakes. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. We dont know the rate of accidents or where larger better fed chicks, some hatched earlier, push out weaker brothers and sisters hatched later. 62 (blinking yellow light). It is illegal to capture, possess, or cause harm to a Great Blue Heron or its nest or eggs. ), with long legs and sinuous necks. The shallow waters below the nests are not easily visited by canoe or wading due to fallen trees and bushes. We hiked for about 4 miles on a warm day, then headed off to North Andover for a late lunch. Stay on trails to avoid ticks and poison ivy. We guess the average nests in Middletons rookeries to be about 45 feet high, five building stories without fire escapes. The challenge is to navigate the wetlands, closed roads, and other impediments to locate the heron, but it is so worth the effort! Up to 22 active Great Blue Heron nests, many viewable from the pull-off with a spotting scope or binoculars. They grow up to 4 feet tall and have a wing span of about 6 feet. Great blue herons have straight, daggerlike bills for spearing fish, and adults have thin black plumes swept back behind their heads. Turn left on Rt. Only the pure white great egret approaches this stature among other Massachusetts birds. Before beavers drowned the white pines and death took away their needles and twigs this millennium we knew of no nests here. 62 west and follow it for 4.2 miles to a stop sign. Sanctuary Highlights. Donations to Mass Audubon are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law. Please check back soon for additional info and dates. Click here to listen to the audio. Heron rookery in the conservation area . Great Blue Herons The Heron Rookery was originally named after a colony of Great Blue Herons that once occupied the site. Enjoy this wonderful post from Barry Van Dusen about his visit to the Great Blue Heron Rookery at Mass Audubon's Rocky Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Great blue herons are easily identifiable with their head plumes and pale orange beaks. This entry was posted on Monday, April 2nd, 2012 at 9:10 pm and is filed under Birds. If that doesn't work, you can place several 18-inch-high stakes around the pond. ), with long legs and sinuous necks. Good signage at the intersections and some good hills to hike up, with a really nice view of Boston from the summitt. 54th Annual Governor's Conservation Achievement Award Winners . However, notable . Photo by Gloria Z Nagler. Great blue herons are widespread in North America. Some birds winter over and are found in coastal areas or where freshwater remains open. There is off-road parking and just costs $5. Remain in the pull-off area on Swamp Roadat all times to protect plants, animals, and yourself, No operating drones or other remote-controlled vehicles. Did all survive the winter somewhere and make it back? Lake Sammamish State Park boasts one of the biggest Heron Rookeries in our area and March is the perfect time to come out for a visit to see the nesting birds. At the far end of a meadow, turn right onto Heron Rookery Trail. In the early years of beaver impoundments here few nests existed in this area. A fourth heronabout 50 feet to the left of the three herons pictured above appeared to be building or strengthening its nest. At the next junction turn left onto Fern Forest Trail / Midstate Trail and follow that for 0.2 mile. This entry was posted in Natural History , Nature in a minute , Photography and tagged Barry Van Dusen , Great Blue Heron , nature in a minute , Norton , Photography on April 2, 2020 by Sean K. . Great Blue Herons watch over their hatchlings in the nests. The nests are added to each year, eventually becoming very bulky and measuring up to four feet in diameter. Great place for a hike. Beyond this point the yellow triangles for the Midstate Trail are mostly only present near trail junctions with Audubon's markings taking precedence over those of the long-distance trail. Other wildlife observed here includes bear, bobcat, and otter as well as a variety of waterfowl and turtles. Do not pick or collect plants or crops without permission. From Rt. The Winmar Company donated the site to the City in 2004. more. Mass Audubon is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 04-2104702) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Migrating great blues arrive in New England as early as the latter part of March, and migrate southward between mid-July and late September. Are they fighting, flirting, or just playing? The Heron Rookery Trail follows along a portion of the Little Calumet River that once featured over 100 Great Blue Heron nests. Active beaver dams, which form a wetland complex ranging from open water to forested swamp. Downy Woodpecker. If you have this problem, try scaring it away by going outside and shoutingmost get the message after a few repetitions and don't come back. I had the opportunity to explore the Wollomonopoag Conservation Area that is just outside of Franklin, MA and is the home to a relatively la 57 Palomino Drive, Franklin MA $410,000 Wonderful home in a highly desirable Dover Farms development! At the light, follow signs for Rt. A Great Blue Heron makes its approach to its nesting site. Hover over the button below to share. Have fun exploring! One old Closeteer sadly remembered Viet Nam war documentaries where helicopters he helped pay for flew over abandoned paddies and scorched jungles. Now there are many. They have grown so fast and. Before beavers drowned the white pines and . Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Details. Rare Heron Spotted at Pipeline Rapids While out exploring downtown Richmond Wednesday, I was. On later weekly checks that summer we saw no herons in the once very active rookery. Its wingspan is about 6.5 feet. Last year at this time thick ice and snow were below the rookeries when the herons returned. Chance of snow 80%. Heron rookery in the conservation area . The challenge is to navigate the wetlands, closed roads, and other impediments to locate the heron, but it is so worth the effort!To see heron, go from mid -May to early June; soon after the young fly away. This puts you on Fern Forest Trail which is also part of the Midstate Trail route. As we silently watched and snapped pictures of the herons, a large bird flapped its enormous wings and hovered near another. Quickly this bird took flight with raucous rasping honks in off-beat duet with its amorous companion. The two glided like pterodacyls to the far shore of the pond where they engaged in mating rituals. They winter over much of its breeding range, which extends as far south as the West Indies and the Galapagos Islands. From Rt. Hike time: 2 hours. Read More. Amazing that you can see Boston from here. Great blue numbers are stable or rising in the Northeast, according to McFarland. How about twenty great blue heron nests active with both adults and their young! Follow Rt. Escapee: Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have bred but don't yet fulfill the criteria for Provisional.