Hey, here's a great video from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of some of the young great blue herons that were retrieved from the tornado damaged rookery at North Mississippi Regional Park. They appear to be doing very well! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgQhwLHxWgs[/youtube]

In other news, I have had multiple reports of herons rebuilding on 2 different areas on the river. I'm working with my park and the MN DNR now to go out and try and get photos of it for next week. One of the new spots is not easily visible from the shores of the Mississippi but if you are canoeing the area or taking a boat, you'll see it. As a matter of fact, I was supposed to lead a birding trip to the rookery via voyageur canoe with Wilderness Inquiry on June 11 and wondered how we would improvise, but that trip is going to go right past the new rookery. We should also see eagles, peregrines, orioles, and hear warblers, vireos and wrens.

If you have any spare cash, consider donating to the WRC and the great blue herons. Fish eaters are expensive birds to take care of.