Date: 3/13/26 8:35 am From: mary hrudkaj via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Port Orchard Great-Blue Heron rookery (or were those pterodactyls?)
Yesterday morning while driving toward the round-about at Bay and Bethel in Port Orchard, a group of 10-12 Great-Blue Herons took flight from their 45 plus strong rookery above the gas station. The group did a lower level flight around the round-about circle then returned to their nests. For a moment it was like watching a group of Pterodactyls flying around and back to the rookery. At least with GBH's one doesn't have to worry about being plucked up and taken back to feed the kids.
The rookery has been there for several decades now and has grown quite large. Back on March 5 I took time to count nests and came up with 45. Just about everyone had an adult standing on a nest making them easy to find. Both times I was there it was near to high tide. Makes one wonder how they all manage to feed their young when it's time. Considering all the military and other wastes, etc that have collected in Sinclair Inlet over the decades by the shipyard, it's amazing the flock is so healthy.
With the trees being leafless right now, it's easy to see the nests. There is parking across Bethel Rd in a little used mini-mall like business area.
Time to go throw some food down on the snow for my home birds.
