[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]





        U.:     " " ''" "''  ' .'"~rCE NOAA

        223a   >  !L -   -    t   IE
        CHARL.. -c &-413




          THE GREAT BLUE HERONS
          OF NANJEMOY, MARYLAND












          PREPARED BY:      STEVE CARDANO
                           CALVERT R. POSEY, SR.
                           PRICILLA MINNICH
                           PAULA BATZER
                           KATHY DAVIS





                  Property oï¿½ CSC Library



                            A PUBLICATION BY THE
               NANJEMOY CREEK ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
                    BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CHARLES COUNTY
EQ    aLA PLATA, MARYLAND



                                   COASTAL ZONE

                               INFORMATION CENTER



I: ~            U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOAA
               COASTAL SERVICES CENTER
               2234 SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE
               CHARLESTON, SC 29405-2413                           W.P.








                   Resource Contents

Pre-Trip Activities

1.  Great Blue, By Marnie Reed Crowell

2. Newspaper Articles, Maryland Independent and
    The Washington Post

3. Bill and Feet Adaptions
    Fill the Bill-Naturescope; Birds,Birds, Birds
    Feet are Neat-Naturescope; Birds, Birds, Birds
    The First Eden-Birds, The Remarkable Flying Machines
    Adapt-A-Bird Body-Tops Learning Systems

4. Video- "The Great Blue Heron" Charles County Board of
    Education, Instructional Materials Center, 20 Min.

5. Slides- The Nanjemoy Creek Heron Rookery Charles County
    Board of Education, Instructional Materials Center.
    Slides with script.










             Field Trip Activities at the Nanjemoy Heron Rookery


U           ~~~1. Fall-Winter Nest Counts

             2. Egg Shell Remains Data Sheet For Measuring Thickness

             3. Soil Testing Data Sheet

I            ~~~4. Other Field Trip Ideas List


              *The Nanjemnoy Heron Rookery is located on property
             owned by The Nature Conservancy. Groups can not enter
             the Rookery at certain times during the year. All other
             times groups must make reservations by calling Reserve

            Manager Mr. Calvert R. Posey, Sr. (301) 743-5079.






                                                                                                                                                   M AINE
                                                                                            IThe manl shifted the camera he was carrying to his shoulder and
   ON A PLATFORM OF sticks high in the top of a spruce tree sat                           began to climb the tree beside tile heron's nest. lie chose this nest
   a great blue heron. She was the color of the sea at dawn. Beneath                      front all the others because it stood at the outer edge of the group
   her breast lay five large eggs with shells of ancient blue-green, nearly              of nests in tile leronry. lie did not wish to disturb tile birds.
   ready to hatch. She ruffled the feathers of her huge wings and drew                      Slowly, the man pulled himself up front branch to branch. I le
   them closer about her. Spread, her wings spanned a full six feet. I ler                proceeded cautiously, because many of the branches would not bear
   powerful bill could crush almost any adversary, yet she was uneasy.                    his weight. Thie lower branches had died because the sunlight no
     Two black forms had been stealthily slipping through the darkness                   longer reached them; nearer the top of the tree the limbs had been
   of the spruces, ever closer to the big shaggy nest. Although she kept                  killed by heron guano. The spruce was treacherously slippery with
   her eye on the pair of ravens hopping silently from branch to branch,                  tie wetness and the growth upon it. Nearly all the branches carried
   they did not really worry the heron. She could handle them if they                     old-man's-beard, a greenish-gray lichen. It hung in wisps from the
ï¿½  came too close. What bothered her was the boat that had crossed                       damp dark limbs; rain that never fell, flourishing in the Maine
   the bay and circled her small island several times. A  man lhad                        fogs. 
   beached the boat and was working his way through the trees where                         I ligher and higher climbed the man, smiling all the while at the
   the heron nests were.                                                                  heron. I le did not see the two black ravens, darker than the shadows
   - She could catch an occasional glimpse of the intruder. She was                      around them. Ile had eyes only for the heron on her nest.
   familiar with the human form, but the alien silhouette of tile knap-                     She glared at him and flattened her body over her precious eggs.
   sack on his back may have contributed further to the heron's unease.                   a bit more. I ler heart pounded against the shells.
   I lowever, she had never had a direct interaction with man, so she                       The man inched his way along the last limb that was big enough
   was able to sit tight. She held her head high, eyes glaring alertly,                   to bear him and his camera. lie sighted through his camera and
   head cocked tautly. The crack of dry branches on the ground told                       thought happily about the fine photographs he would have. Ile loved
   her his footsteps were coming near. Carefully she shifted her weight                   the bay and admired the great herons he had so often watclvlr,
   over the eggs. She raised the feathers of her crest, arched her neck,                  fecding in the coves. I le was delighted to have discovered the island
   stretched for one more look, and then drew her head and long neck                      nesting place of tile great blue herons.
   down flat against her back.                                                              Awkwardly he groped behind him for the light meter he carried
     Below her the ground was carpeted with spruce needles stained                       in his knapsack. I lis arm brushed a dead branch, breaking it with a
  white with the droppings of all the herons which caine to this island                  loud snap.-   .              .                   -_ _
  in Penobscot Bay on the coast of Maine. I lere the great blue herons                     The heron could remain frozen no longer. She exploded from tihe
  for miles around came to roost at night and to build their nests and                   nest and wheeled away into the air in alarm. As the two hungry
  raise their young.                                          _ _       -                ravens flashed up to the unprotected nest the man watched in
--I  -e m wn who was making his way in thle shadows of the spruces                        helpless horror. Each raven gave an egg a quick blow with its power-
  grimaced at the strong smell of the droppings which whitewashed                        fill beak and carried away a dripping shell.
  the rocks and trees. Then he smiled, for lie could see the heron and                     'lThe air rang with the disconsolate-sounding cries of the heron
  her nest silhouetted above him. He smiled, for ihe came in peace.                      circling above. She could not master her fear to return to her nest.

  4                                                                                                                                                       5









GREAT BLUE

  Tile photographer realized it was his doing tlat thile coast would
know fewer of the wonderful great blue herons this suinlier. lie
climbed down through tihe clawing spruce branches, made his way
back to the boat on the beach, and headed out to sea with a heavy
heart. The croaking cry of a raven came across the water to mock
him.
  The heron spread her dusky wings to brake her flight and landed
her long legs onto tile edge of the plundered nest. She studied tile
fragments of shell and the smear of albumen that was all that
remained of two of her offspring. As she settled herself gently down
on the remaining eggs, she heard the first faint peeps from within
them. In these eggs still beat the hearts of herons to com;, and
perhaps she could raise three.

  A few months agohe cold winds of April had blown across the
gray waters of the bay, and patce1 of snow still lay in lie shade of
the spruces when the herons had,/come back from ttl/e soutlyS.ky-
blue hepaticas were blooming promises of spring. R#ins were back;
noisy flocks of red-winged blackbirds filled bare trietops.and boiyed
up from barrni fields. Long lines of Canada geese came hlonking by
in4he night.               '
  in the p'early light of dawn tile herons had danced togetllerol tile
mud flat of the cove across from' the island. At least it looked like
a dane. Groups of, ierons-loners for most of their libs--stood
near/one aprothler,6n the icy fats. As birds approached each other
thef'd the rielves rebuffed by njildly hostile signIs. A fe ydays
later male he,6ns chose a nest sit,' usually an oldfest whicl/over
the years mrny have become quit'substantial. Sone6, chiefly yq lger
birds, laAto accept less desirable locations inle treetops  n tile
edge of flie circle to build their rickety platf ris.    /
   Eacl2/male defended his /est vigorously  ainst all corIers,I'v/',
tile fen    entually thse bcelors acc pted afemal, but at lie
first, theirs was a very tene eationship. Again and again the lale
would stab at the face of the female, who would draw back her head

6










       I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~O 












                    ~~~~~~LI  AI.
















                                            A great blue heron spreads lba Ingo from a Perch highs in a Nalijenocy treeto Inathe Nature Conservancy rookery, where about 2.000 of thse
                                            birds come each year to breed and I raidse Lheir coung_

                                              Herons land amid range controversy
                                                  By James llettingea-         fears the sportsman's club main-      The firing range's fate reSLS   herons' possible reaction to guns-
                                                    Staff  eporter            taim can be allayed by safety   with the Charles County Board    fire noise Both admit it is a diffi-
                                               sthiey Kaye every year since   and buftering pr-ecaution      s     of Zoning Appeals. which coo-   cull tsinsg to Predict, and em.
                                            the mid 1940s. the great blue he-    Naturalists worry that the be-   .rols the granting of "special ex-   pliasize the need for caution.
                                            tams des-cended on Naiiajemoy in  roos. skittish birds that can be   ceptions" that allow such facili-      Whether the firing range will
                                            Feb'r;;ary An estimated 2.DW of  set to squawktni; andA flurnied ac-  ties in residential zones, The    disturb  the  birds  "can't  be
                                            the prehistoric-looking birds -   btivty by a single person -a~lking   board heard arguments for and    proved  by  either side." said
                                            .ith long. bony legs, small bod-   through  the  s-oods.  may  be   against the range in January,    Mlary  Drreege, land steward for
                                            .es and 6i-foot wing spans -be.   scared off by- g-,;rLs~iot fire      then opted to reopen discussion   Ithe Nature- Cnni'-vrari. a nnn-
                                            Fin sirisili irgie Vnli-iiitia    TIwi  tan.. iii'ii    j.., iSi    .ttu wi as i_..sii- iq.. retl-ig   gsuit    ru1- iuiti  .ngviuua-
                                             I ay to 1iis  tAnd niato war Sarn-   club. willcli *as unaware of tWe  tuai  close the rookery is to tE   live th~flat o~ls Oicn te2acre pro
                                            )emoy, Creek. home of one of the   rookery when it contracted to   proposed firing siteo. A second,    serve  containing  the rookery.
                                            Atlantic Coast-1 largest heron buy the Ian  between Route 6   "nstted issue" public hearing to    "It sridiculousifor s to say that
                                            rookecries                         and Adams,  Willett Road.  be-   discuss only the firing range's   the range shouldn't be there,
I                                            ~       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The birds. according to Nanije-   lieves the range won't have at  potential effect on the great blue    Droege said, but, "We MEs don't
                                            ma) resident and rookery man.   neative impact Don the birds.  herons is scheduled for April 11.   want Lo take a chaince _. There's
                                            ager Calvert Posey. have been   and has vowed riot to butild if    In Preparation for the hearing,   a potential that it's going to have
                                             going  about  busrines-as-usual  proof surfaces that it will .    both sides ane researching the                           See Hercons. A-I
                                             toe the last six weeks: fiin
                                             their treetop nests, fanning out
                                             to feed a ,tohfinbhlrIf=lla. -PterodactyI-Iike birds call Charles -County home
                                             their young tohatch in Apr  Fand        i et all with eacimicl    July. It's the largest heron rook-   Matlawoosai  Swamp, bul 16ere
                                             begin flying in June.             =wos.atdly legs. sharply    ery in Marylanod, conlilalnng ap-   di'ven off by a combination of
                                              But this year, -hen the herons  aCWed nekaid posuttedhbeak5    pronitnaLely 25 perceist of the   tanberirg and hunters. They rie-
                                             camesnorth to the area they call  'guetblue begans woiddilot lok    state' breedirtisg        i poolfoand   located to Nanjemoiy. Posey
                                             home from February  to July.   cut GI Place ID a monster movse`   ta beiVed Lo be tseEas Coast's   saud. because of the site's isolat.
I                                               t~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~hey la,,ded unknow-ingly in &  orltistnobook dealing wLtb pie-   largest such nesting ground    ad nature and pmroznltyto&afeed.
                                             middle of a heated debate over a   bWDis trimtnes.          north orFlorida.                             lsg areas in thne Potomac Phver
                                             Fring range proposed It~   site      The pterodactyl-like cretsa0       The- bird have been owming go and seeral creek  The Nanje-
                                             near ofabltheir rookery.            lofeeuigbt Al horn            . I  4anjerrcy tince the mid-]$"t.   moy rookery was threatened by
                                           I The St Chaorles Sportsman's  arlesrordn  toe  moey Ianagr   devolopar."et In  VW]LEt. late10t
                                                         t'lub snitta to pot uut~kuor shue  Couty      K.w  Y neK s    sist ad longtime Nanjo-mop resi.   but &osed when the Nature Carn-
                                            gun. rifie and pistot and archery   In hundreds; of pairn each spring   dent Calvert Posey. wbo be-   aervancy. a private eniviron.
                                             Frarges about one mile from the   and summner. T'hey are theof- f*levin he wais the ftrst person to   mnental orgailuataion neeking to
                                           I rookery' on a 164-acre, heavily   clad counity bird.                  notie lhesr presence. Os-a- the   protect ecologic1ll  Important
                                             wooded site adjacent to several   -TheA cma  blue heron rooery   geats, the colony -has goitte    areas,  suirchasa  the swrrmsj-
                                            houses in Nanlemnoy.                -   N-eno  erel.   with   Utger and spread oiA.- Posey  Ing 8-acre preserve,
                                              Local residents object to the   1.11 o'sI aetp  of h.nb   Said  estimating that The rxi4-                 Thogh great blue berots asre
I                                          ~        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~proposal, fearing it w4f  create  said poplar trees. spread over a   t"  cirOilically contained 550 lo   mot particularly rane - and ame
                                            bothersome  noise.  endanger   25-acre ame  -  attracts about   20D 1esLa                                actually quit~e plentwifu   n ONe
                                            children and animals. and into.201   id   rmFbur                     oTer-rt   w  rtda)XSeeHm.
                                            fere with wetlands on th  st -    ,    brsfo Ferryt                        eheosocneedangS   Hs.A-










                                 *Herons
                                  a detrimntaefctnthe    herons.    marksmanship programs  The   by the military bases in 'quite a
                                  and that's what we're concerned   club ptarsa mtaximumof  1" I i's' ifemit ind   bnoa.
                                  aboul."                             points, and anticirkatin no  mo    oo            yuwol et          ro
                                                                      than 50 people shooting tru~at fram,   oe   ad h hr
   I                             ~       ~~~~~~~~~~The sportsman's club. mean-    a weekend. Mltchell said.  crack of gwsnlirt. he woed, might
                                  while. doesisi think it.s range wIll                                     have a more detrimental effect an
                                  have "that much of a detrimental      Asserting thet "wildlife are
                                  effect an the wildlife ' or create   adaptable" Mitchell said deer   ehms
                                  ..any resl problem." according to   wander along traits near the           Tiring range detractors say the
                                  publicit~y director tDacnnymcitclell.  sportsmlan's club's present finrug    location of the range LS optioknal.
                                  le  nted.though, that the club   range on Piney Church Itoad in   atutle the location of the rookery is
                                     (will~ ~ Op te eoinon Of nvin    Waldorf, Great blue heion  are   not. Mitchell countered that the St.
                                      I rietifrsert~aidfind knodver   not an endangered species that   Ctiarles Sport~mikin's Club. shich
                                 f laliontiiLibeNarklemoy- site is   has failed to adjust to human ac-   seeks to leave the Waldorf locatIon
                                  mtJgid untsutable. "We're coeiser- - tivity. and might be able to forge a   it leases because of the coming ex-
                                  altionlsts5 I rst,: Mitchell said.  similar Co-xistenice with the Noan-   Parisian of SL Charles, has bere
  *                          ~          ~~~~~~~~~~"We-definitely a no.Xgiing to   jemoy finng range. he added,  actively searching for a new space
                                    mve downthsei'e ard infringe on      ~        snts   ue*Wo for two years. and has discovered
                                                                                 Poseyis nt so ure,"Whothat affordable, remote tocatioris
                                      ~!~inanwaY                      knows how they're going to aehr    cmeb.Telu.e
                                    Droege suggested an "cet- react?"' he asked. maintaining    acead. "to Oct bascly. Th clb.ttoe
                                  ble compromise" might be fog th    that the heron colony now in Nan-   lsaid "its nta basically gaes." but
                                  club to keep the range closed fromn   )emoy once nested near Mattawo-   les coPetn itha ara     mweaty doesel-u
                                  Feb. I to -May 15. the time the   man  Swamp.  bu   lef ai'ter the   i  ~leUl   ihwatydvl
                                  birds are "most vulnerable to   ar-ea became popular with hunt.   opersin itssearcblor land.
                                  noise" because Of mating. incut-   ers. Herons have "survived"             So the questiois of hot  to saltisfy
                                  bating and easrly birdltood actiiv-   some instances of noise intrusion,   both the sportsman's club and

                                  dies Young birds.Droegenoted in   but have been unable to adjust to   local enviromnentalislts, and how
                                  a Feb. 33 letter to the zoning   others. according to Chandler    best to protect a unique -sesting
                                  board. "will -ump out of their ,set   Rtubbins. a wildlife biologist with   grovund. rernain unresolve'd, with
                                  to !heir death if agitated or   thieu s.FtshankdWildlifeService,    some expert opinions expected to
                                                    starued"   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~be voiced at the Apri 11 zoning
                                                                             Firin rngie fu~trsoin t        orhe In-ig
                                    Thec club has requested a sever,   out that the Nanjemoy herons cur-     Tegetbu  eo   okr  i
                                  ailuig  c edue     onaccmoae dian Head, Dahlglren and Quantico a          o,    hn   pcilo   h   hl
                                   members 'who %ork odd days and    military bases a few miles away,   E-ast Coast  and -one of our prize
                                  hours. Club attorney Stephen    as well assa spartsman's club that   po~slisu  Charles County,"
                                  Braun told the zoning board Jan.  hunts on property adjacent to th   adPsy-1dntwn  oe
                                  24 that the sportsman's group has   rikiy                                   h   jotmn   lbhsn  n
                                  "limited resources" and "cnt           But the 25-member Buck-horn   teniiiin o'f doing that. Mitchell
                                  compromise on dabs or hours-"        Bow and Gun Club that has leased siditoghsranato
                                    Mitchell expects the range to   1 9e 1 mainlry fear thenrookerd  cio-  lrlai.lm toPreserve wildlife" and
                                  used foe an average of five to O198.mil   o hnigadco    shires the "same basic inten-
                                           hour a 1eekwithmostacti   kout-s does not shoot ther'e from   sines'  as the environmentalistst.
 I                                 hour  a wee, withmost ativitytaking place on Weekends, and ~ Fbzr   oSpebr    h    w   rushv   the sm
                                  busiest times being several wee i- logofouniderBlake Yoder.               1ve two grusig hat,  it hel addedan
                                  ends of organiz ed shoals and          And though the noise generated    ushaveto get ther-e together."



                                   Home                                                                                       Cont'd from A-11

                                  Chesapeake Bay region - the   they attempt to reach a feeding   Added.
                                  Nlanjiemoy rookery 'Ls signkificant   area.                                The herons are notoriously skit.
                                  because it represents "such a con-        Heon "will nest close togeth.  tish creatues who are particular.
                                  cenlration of nesting barons ... It's    but theynspridotiover                         to people walking
                                  so important to so many birds."   er,                                                  bunhysra  u    vrabnahterres-ts, Posey said.
                                  according to Mary Droege. a land   large area to feed." Posey' said 11   Access to the Nature Contservancy
                                  steward with the Nature Comer.   hero nets uncommo wtoi se severle   rookery is limited to field trips be-
                                  vancy.                    h          ern' netsacke with'in at s-w ing le  (viern mid-May and mid-June.
                                    Pairs of heroes conic nuorti to   earl. pair llkt'v to hanve Its own a   The 61lrds.w *huie bodiest are
                                  mate, fittingly, around Valen-    quarter Mile of waterway. be ex'   sna~ll5"  con an average Chiak'
                                                    tine's Da each yea. Posey W plained-en's, look awkward standing In
                  I               tines Day each ~~~~~~~ Posey be-   plaited- ~~~~~their nests, but extremely grace-
                                  lieves they determine the time *Of    Eating such non-commercial   lul when flying. Thneir, 6-foo wing.
                                  ted itheirnva fw aysofsthesoos      fish as Wh'ite perch, Ind young   sptans enable them to climb
                                           tentlywithi  i 15  dayst3~ ~ menhaden, which they catch by   tOffugh the sit while moving their
                                  sweethearts' holiday, by otZsm.t  wading into streams and plucking   wings slowly. With little apparent
                                  tIng the lengthening days rather   from  the water With their long   dffLt
                                  than temperature changes.         b      eks herons feed over a Zmilue      Great blsae heroeis are itactually
                                    Upon arrival, the herons fix   radiws frf01a th        ne rne550 rok.'   move gray tumhanble  while their
                                  their large treetop nests, which    ~    'V~~            4 ~     ~       blue European counterparts, for
                                  Moeasure up to 3feet in width. sith    must stay in the nest in order to   reasm; ono    to Posey. have,
                                  news sticks and taigs. After a      os receive food. are fed by thei par'   been labeled great gray heroes.
                                  mating period during which they   et  woregurgitate directly into          Though the size of the rookery
                                  fluff their plume feathers and v-i-  their moutlts. Posey added.         has Increased each year, Posey
                                  brate their wings. the birts settle    When the herons leave Nane    expet~s It to begin slowing as a
                                           down  o hach tree  o fie egs   tny in July. they spread out over   "saturation point for the feeding
                                  Per neat  Youn  birds begin aP-   the cit-We East Coast. Posey said.   area" Is reached. He noted athe
                                  pearing in April, and start flyinig  IThose that go north initially bead   rookery location is gradually shiift'
                                  10 to 12 weeks later. Posey said.   south when the weather turns   tIng as nitr'ate from bird dropping%
                                  Malty yaWiI lv'rtti. he 11ilKie. rcilel, lv'fior  returnialg to NonitJE    kills Ire-e bhaiming liefnn nrsts.

I                              ~       ~~~~~~~~~leave the nest tmosoouand die as    inoy the follow-ing February. be        -James Hettinger








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         ~~'~uehe~~rons ge                                              nter, home ujrtesy-,of~Co,o
                                by'~~~~~'Ilaae~~~~~~~~mi ~~~building Shouldi be   progrnm. which has drawn   oelved his troph os                                        ~     .h  orteoitng team&
                         ~~  .~~~~M~~~~~Zditw ~~~~~~read                               y           o cuac by the   crowd* averaging aroundI120teen.   Oulatandin~rxag    Doe
                                                                              C   6a of 1964 the _Astor, the                                                                       flu fu.ndV98'n; Deeicktsel  lan a;work.
                       %1_7"hp   4~_r.Aam   Ily   o f          a         ROV. William J. Micheimn      Hamip~r~eletonan.~                     n   ic                                                  90 
                                            cionw ~''  "w    V~  1y54'           HM~5b.I4SINI  '*"20zyears ago'                             '~
         daoom                    aqi  go.,                                               ble bo              Tv                                                                AIlk trsbbugaral  Chermnies Om
                          Woot bkobmm WI&    ysbayot-  A  future    ~~              member of "Ne ladlio eI~.
            w  phqw~Na~smay.  f'   31i..Te  e t~imal   began   auxilaroftvr0  the 1.0 Plast volun.4,'            reo~i-  n                    n     i    nI,.
                      Ic  A*~*  th~.)  .AJ~u~h th  977.lspovvy byBuddy .tser]Firs 1epartmnont wasbornatiii- mlA,  WU' Painurticptqerto,                                           .,ail M)arsaee    ecn
                  Mwaheuwr   o' Marylaid WildlifiAdintrlnetra.". JohnMottlewastph  ickansuf   nies.  St~e~ve~   1SD.'UE     apnovd they Wft. b'i
                          Isock-to, ~ ~ Ifijw  a  70nst grea tsu  hrk  morle optal     .   hy              ca~ds ate Prsietilonr(            senior repiteehlt        i         g       ie anote  rviin
                                              ,t."rckaryttheeadwaer~olan.. The little girl, thtitnt hl itlnentwhichwilillendtheavrfkoa       IOI  uh
                 ebEW~W7. tba                ,,       a   .o,,         ,~WeIghed            rs.4 6  Mltad II. "and also render the 21-gun   W   cty                               h  irewtwllab  lteY
                                                    ~~~~' ~~~~ounces MAm willrsdeNxp, .    be                                                      Front #,                                          btieft I'
                                 Atmoot   _'--'-25Ye~rZ~k9               Aanes.                       y10 as  prtieslide.t 4N    'r'"* '..f,     -
         ~.~.ev~~~k59Peat  an  *jnPCSCUVC                                  (hristmas babies were born"'        u~      enb'o         Jordaner
                                 "Um-      rn wait   r-en iste  5-nj)    C hrstmas Day (Doe, 2t5) to Mi.  Poet 34, an Engle SCOU4t andi         E      harlerjWiq'              abytoa    emlouer
                         ZhPPSP~~aftrno Do e ,        29 for tim new SA- . and Mrs. Charles Mkide of. Wa).  menhe  .- th Kngtsk'nmed aum~uN ~ rln                                            11Cne  nS
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               40.  N O    ~ ~~~~Hert Roman Catholic.  dnrf. a dotwhter. and Mr;'xndVM,;* I3enoa                                            mem.             n~l          M     at~ail          Kalwsao              is
           -=hth ..            t of  .ChumohlnLa Pslate',.               Mrs. Psul Harris of Indian HeadjiI. will  ~       ~lEd~lo          ~ rmrl~se&~     s7aiNW"Ya.Dyat
    t 4AI14A=-  V~w1the donsaUon o'   Da the draswiiiboard for OA  aeon, at the LaPlate hospitalt111 Gadaon  he raint'  o    ten Catharine                                I   weighed S pot-ads. 1) ucs.Se
                                                               new buld~ng, aersaflloChArksCountY-.,  -v*-.dtlrIng the  nuuain  OnyM 1~9t~u~ya 'I                                owyslgty aore then 22 [Dceb"
             Omazl~outvn'ewrissoner"  which will cost an estimasted             Dancesbenafl towa., t"Ib%.Aeit                lte944A."  O~IAf   I He did t'or a lWashington D.C..    *
      Canie. bet   VWi an S", ". J3OP-fe. .Will brae I      d 0n A 'o      Firemen of the Waldorf Volun. ,",,efll1l  y, F= wing th   am~u   -':-  Teacha= ! lrp                        an4~tk     ohr  ~sa
                                  much     v Aim Kr  Oue et to the present Ba.' tear Fire D~epartment have takeni.  rRUMo, Imth williactas hosta ft tim  to aperwarag es.'upsI  W ot~o
            "M VA fta~vM*%lt lnt'%'cred 1eart Fftotocy an St. Mary's'-  onroetdsge    l'etep'..                                           !Ji(ae                                aIspu y)trSbye(                     I
                        a~sqwtth1Na~reswnedb~rde.  ~cO~M<   j~'~'.     '~  oungsters of too  wedar                            f irtoF1ii4*-.
               ~~~~~~P ~ ~  ~     ~     t I   O.                   sqaefe.wihanti   thef Ire depa ent by spoIxori-n rotary Dick Arbogast of Lha MAar-  1, tfJ ad b' IVs'ag~tzi ma
                                       oz.r 1,400 squae feet to a basement   a Tee  Hop ever other FridaI   bW7.VoYluntee  Fire De*art~oensaa:;Amowa'osta
              ?hO  Al~~~ifl*Off~~rieM,~p,'rish W. lwillhave ac eactyf 'Ovening in th  adrFrk9*r                                                                                    abmonngtoe rtxVseaood~
            ad kxpoomp      Dr.,v Bal a  sol church.         .Co-chairmen for the successful  held at the.9Dl Restauranti Ttre- port ofboth paler",                                          "nm





                GREAT BLUE HERONS: SURVIVING IN SPITE OF CIVILIZATION                                                                      K;ï¿½DL RDLOCK



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 I                                                                                                                 ..
                     E6  FaY, Avuctsr 14, 1987





                                                                                          .~~~~~~--~-jL                                                               --sorgsnh
          E2 FRiA, At;t'sT 14, 1987                                                         'D I TX____                                                                   _ _mTo_



                                                                                           ï¿½~~~~~~-
              Regal Blue Hero  Kingdom. 

                                      M4~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~ '                                                     pot for ï¿½a.- Bou I
         Manifests, Survives on Bay    Favorite PickUp S
                                                                                         '-_g                                           P*""          As long as right turns are alboetf o:to
                                                           Malnd is doiug more than paying po-             .         RDC    o   I                                    r     Avenueat 14th Steet, the
                    BLUE         MONh From              lite attention to the birds.   t           '
                                         _______________________________                              -  acess to the express lane would be           present pickup spot doesn't hurt anyone
                       ki~ngdom of the bero  spans nearly  This summer  the Chesapeake Bay Crit-          through the Ninth Street tunnel and that    but it helps thousands.
          the entire coastal United States, but the   ical Areas Law takes effect. The statute M           is farther out of the way for the drivers,                       ALICE M 
       Chesapeake Bay region is home to a huge   provide protection for the herons and Mary-               as is 10th Street.                                                         Springfield
          populationh at last count. Maryland reported    land's endangered  species by regulating           Whichever location is chosen, I would     Dear Mr. Schoene:
       27 colonies and Virginia, 34, for a total of   timbering, industry expansion, and devel-            hope for fair warning. Having the D.C.            understarn  the No Standing'
          more than 7,000 heron pairs.                   opment in the bay region.                        police ticket drivers now with no            provisions on 14th Street NW  for I          I
            Nanjermoy is considered the largest rook'-                                                    alternative ... is precipitous and unfair.   continually become frustrated ,heni
               e- rbeding site, o nsdr   the Earst Coast .DAVID G. PAYNTER    encountering drivers sitting and waiting
            ery  or breeding site, onthe East CostSpringfield                                                                                              a p      er.
          north of Florida. Femnale herons choose          In July, the rookery is nearly abandoned.                     .               Si e          f       a    gr.
          mates  ach February and stay with them    Empt  nests and skeletos of ill-fated baby            Dear Mr. Shoene                                 [ti I have great difficulty with the
          until the breeding season ends in July.        birds tlat toppled from their nests mark the        I urge you to help commuters like      ,  "No Stopping' prov:ision. To me, it is a
             Because  the herons are colonial' birds   breeding site.                                      myself keep the system that serves us       minor inconvenience in trade for fewer
                                                                  b reed~~~~~n                                  ing3  mintes. Shudtecrpo'iy     acmrms    mwligt
            at dwell in trees apartment style        e      There are  a few latecomenrs  thoughe,  e      and the city so well. At present, I can get   automobiles funneling in and out of the
           catastrophe could cause extensive damage   of birds who arrived after the great influx of       be abolished, I would have to take a bus     make, just     make th c omprom isesing to
           to the whole colony. 'A single event, man-   mid-February oand are still raising their          and the Metro at a cost of about   ,0        necessary to be in a comar poolmses
                                                                                                          and the Mfetro at a cost of about $ !,000 necessary to be in a car pool.

           numade or natural, in the Nanjemoy rookery   young. And there is Cal Posey                      a year ($4.20 [perlday; $21  perl week).       Since the river and the bridges are in
           would wipe out one-third of the [Marylandl       It was Posey who nmade sure that the her-      For a single parent like myself, this        your jurisdiction, it seems that moving
           population.' said Glenn  Therres of the   ons would have a place to which to return.            represents a considerable savings of time   fewer cars over the upstream and
           Maryland  Department  of  Natural  Re-   He  approached  the Nature Conservancy                 and money.                                   downstream spns would be a fair t  rade
           sources. 'That's why we're starting to pay   with the idea that Nanjemoy was an ecolo-            I would prefer the new location at         for allowing 'stopping' but not
           more attention to these critters.'             gically valuable site worth preserving. Now  .    10th and Pennsylvania. However, I            standing.'  I believe a distinction may be
              The 288 acres that make up the Nanje-   he's the site manager for the rookery.                would also like to go on the record as      drawn between 'stopping' and
           moy preserve were bought by the Nature           'I keep watch,' he said, 'and see that the     saying I would go almost anywhere in the   'standing.' and most jurisdictions
            Conservancy. a private conservation group,   herons aren't                                      14th Street area to pick up the car pool.    apparently agree or the signs w.,uld not
           *  Consevany.  p~afeconervaiongrop,    eros aen' disturbed.'                                       I hope you will be able to help the       read as they do.
            10 years ago after the area was threatened       Posey, 63, has been watching the Nan-          hundreds of people like mself who rely         Moing  rom the rational to the
                                                                                                           hundreds of people like myself who rely Moving from the rational to the

            by logging interests. As the first project of   jemoy herons since the mid-1940s after a        on this fast, convenient and cheap           emotional, it just plain [angers mel that a
                                                                                                           onthi anst, onvnetahap mtion ail,                      it jutpaitng [asngersan  m canth auta
            drummed  up  area  support  through  the   came a pig farm and the birds moved en                                   DONA DE SANCTIS   a waiting passenger and I cannot. Just
        its Maryland  chapter,  the  conservancy   nearby swamp where they were nesting be-                 trnsorato daily.                                            to  tth  ur  opiku
            Save a Nest Program,' which became the   masse to the site at Nanjemrnoy. Every year                                          Springfield   how am I supposed to get to l0th Street,
                                               "Save                                                                                                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~which is hardly on the wray to anywhere?
            'spark that got the conservancy going in the   since then, the herons have returned.            Dear Mr. Schoene:w                  h aon t
                                                                                  s~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Loineth, wh eould bae reunied iea you didn'te
            state,' said Wayne Klockner, assistant di-       Whenrt exactly they appear is still a mys-       I have been a rider and a driver for the   Ma       dison Drive?
        rector for the Maryland/Delaware Field Of-   tery. Although Posey can predict almost to            past five years and if, in fact, the
            fice.                                          the day when the herons will arrive, he has      situation has been thoroughly researched    have to put up with non-District traffic
               Years ago, heron  plumes  were  high-   never actually seen them fly i. by an intelligent individual                                   o     r team, it  and the rest of the Districts services
                                      Years ago  heron  plumes  were  high-   neveractually seen themflyin.  would be immediately clear that the brief   didn't have to provide support to
            priced crowns for ladies' hats. After heron      "It's usually around Valentine's Day. One      stops [to pick up riders] don't begin to     nonresidents. I'm certain it would be just
            hunting was outlawed in the United States   day there's nothing, and then they're every-        compare to the length o time the            as nice i Virginia didn't have Maryland
            il 1918, the depleted population quickly re-   where  It's an explosion of birds.                 etrobuses stop.                           ta         vie  versa. Unfortunately,
                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~hr.I'  nepoion o!bid                                                   Metrobuses stop.
      h:    bounded.                                          'Since 1980, the population has doubled,'        Isn't that what is really the problem     that's the way        it is.
               Stil, there are modern-day threats to the   he said. -This year there are 1,400 nests.'      here? Isn't it that Metro is complaining       Cut me a break... fine m  if I stand
             bondes.ot, u o  ing eniomet souch as loggn,                                                                                                                                    me to
             nesting environment such as logging, de-         Posey is a firm-believer in the conservan-     about all that lost revenue? Why does       out, but for coring out load, allow me to
                                                                                                                                                                             DAVID M. CROYLE
            v lopmen.th band        p        o     l     luenthions welans inrnathundrd       a             bo8    te'Dsti,   them curb.asa
             velopment and pollution as well as nature's   cy's philosophy of hands-off preservation.        everyone in Washington refuse to see the    pick up a waiting passenger at the curb.
             own logger, the beaver.                       Often this means ignoring hundreds of baby        benefit to the District, in terms of
               U Nowhere near endangered, in fact, down-   herons that, after falling from the nest, are    thousands [fewerl autos coming into the                                      Manassas
             right common, the great blue heron can be   abandoned by their parents and face certain         already nightmarish road system.  A drive   Sir:
                                     sptted on virtually any shoreline of the bay   death. Posey recognizes this as 'part of the  anywhere from the 14th Street bridge to  I am writing to... support the location
             aed on virtually any shoreline of the bray   death. Psey recnies  is   part .                   K Street, the Capitol to the River, is      of 1400 Madisonm Dr. as the pickup spot
                                                              one time, however, a member  of a group nothing but one big obstacle corse of              for the Springfield Underground This
                           I  re satrray.Eik WlsnIn          One time, howeverW  a member oloa gisrAuublocked lanes and busted asphalt.                location is more agreeable to the majority
             arawtrasaboogistyadAuu                        naturaliodr'sotn but oebgos tace coure aof                                                   for~c  thel Srp  aslaingfil Underground- This
             Society naturalist, cites the size and produc-   field trip he was                lagprevailed upon him  But back to the 14th               of riders, I suspect, because it is loser to
             tivity ofthebayas   reasons behind this pop- to save a crippd             heleetd StretConstitution Avenue pickup spot                      the 14th Street spot we are used to. Also,
                         -  ~lation boom.  ~nursed it through the winter                          .           ,..The alternates suggested will not       it is more a central location than the o10th
                'The Chesapeake Bay is one of the larg-       "This bird used to sit on the porch steps      work because the drivers will have to go    Street location because many of us walk
          est estuaries in North America. And the   and wait for me to come home,' Posey said.               through so many more turns and hassles    over from the Northwest area around
              general improvement in air and water qual-   Normally herons are spooked by humans              to get over to them and back [to] the       18th and K.
              ity has helped the food supply," she said.    craclng twigs 40 feet below.                      express lanes that they won't have saved      The Madison Drive spot was used for
                Since heron hunting was outlawed, the          By spring, the wing had healed and the         themselves anytime. Who    this             a few days earlier, but without any
                                      is the loss of nesting habitat. Therres says. houhAll it would take is a change in the sign    at the 14th and Constitution spot
              isthe l r of t  bnesteing habitatTherres say.   Pey thought.                                  at that particular spot to read Car-Pool     whenever they saw riders they
              IThe nature of their breeding habits is that      Every now and then there's a familiar         Pickup, One Minute [or 30-secondl Limit.    recognized. and vice versa. T hen those
              they concentrate in small areas, versus rob-   honk on the road,' he said. 'I think it's the
                                 -        "..... ,- .i d.- ; heron coming by to say hello.'








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                                                 bones are hollow or partially hollow,          stork has long, broad wings for aomia    ,     from its breeding ground in Germany to   "'
                                                 with braces of thin bone for support and       long distances. Fast flyers have km    .       feed on insects on Mediterranean
                                                 strength. A sturdy, lightweight frame is       or narrow wings.                    ;          shores. Perching on tree limbs, it waits
                                                 strong enough to support large flight            Even birds' toes are specially dsied         for African killer bees to fly by.
                                                 muscles and yet is light enough for the        and arranged to do different tasks. ' K . t     .
                 ill E                           bird to get off the ground.                     Eagles have strong, grasping Wo            -  2. The Great Spotted Moonling:
                                                   E  Birds' large eyes help give them the     catching and holding small animals. A           This aquatic bird stins tiny shrimp
               J:J      C  T                     best vision in the animal world (in some        warbler's toes help it grip a perch. Bih'      from the and along the edge of
                                                 instances up to ten times better than          can be classified into climbers,  p.the Mediternun. This long-legged
               _                  FIRST human eyes). Some can see color and                      ers, perchers, runners, scratcher ud           bird spends most of its time flying to and
                  _   E DE N                     focus on objects near and far; others          swimmers by their toes.                              m f     its other home in South Africa.
                                                 concentrate low levels of light for night      BUILD A BIRD                                                      ern
                                                                                                ____________  cncentrate  *                   3. The Lesser Roderlan:
                                                 vision. Since their eyes are almost fixed                                                     This carnivorous bird lives in the stubby
     The Mediterranean WVrld and Man             in their sockets, birds must turn or twist     Hypothesis: If a bird is living and flying      trees on western Mediterranean shores.
                                                 their heads to see in-different directions.    in a certain environment, then it wllbe        Feeding on mice, rats and frogs, this
              Jr.ITgram 1                        To judge the distance of a fleeing mouse,      physically adapted to be successful    .        large bird soars in the thermals rising
             Flirr  Hamdout J                    some birds-owls and hawks, for                 that environment.
                                                 example-have eyes in the front of their        Mater : colored pens or             
        -t *heads, giving them stereoscopic vision.                                              pencil, paper, scissors, tape or p:.                  4. The Spanih Rockwren:
                                                   Birds have special balloon-like struc-                                                      This sall, seed-eating bird. commonly
                                                 tures called air sacs attached to their        Procedure:                         -.          known as the "nofly,' runs across flat
                                                 lungs. These store additional air to help      1. Read the Ilctlnal descriptioat bow.    ,  rocks and over the ground unless forced
                irds a  some of the most         bun food for energy. Birds require              Choose one of them to build.        .             fly. lts body is capable of flying
               beautiful and entrancing          lots of energy for flight and, being            Cut out the beaks, feet, bodies and   ,        only short distances. Its heavy leg mus-
               creatures to study. The           warm-blooded, for keeping their body            wings on the worksheet and tape off            cls make good eating for its enemies.
               Mediterranean is a rich           temperature constant. Air sacs aid ther-       paste them onto a blank sheet of pWp,
  laboratory where it is easy to study the       moregulation (body temperature con-            to form what you think the I nr  -              S. The Norwma  Rapido:
  relationships between birds and weather,       trol) and, in swimming birds, help the         bird would look like. Or you my chie            This small bird can fy at speeds of over
  soil, water, insects, mammals and hu-          bird float.                                    to trace bird parts from the                   ; 100 mph. Maneuverable enough to
  man. Birds are a class of vertebrates            But it is a bird's beak, wings and feet      onto a blank sheet of paper,  , if             catch insects at high speeds, it feeds
  called Awes, which are believed to             that tell us the most about its environ-       parts together into a composite.                year-    d at the western edge of the
   have evolved from small dinosaur-              ment. In their varied shapes and sizes,        2 C      you bird    be consisen Mediterranean Sea. As it perches on
  like reptiles.                                 beaks tell us what a bird eats and how it      the environment described. Keep                 the high cliffs. its keen eyes can detect
     The characteristic that separates birds     gets its food. Thick, heavy beaks are          mind that male birds are                        Insects In flight.
  from all other animals is feathers. Both       adapted to crunching seeds, while thin,        brightly colored than female bir*         : "'  6. Bur original creation:
  our fingernails and birds' feathers are        narrow beaks are designed to snap up           3. After building yur bird sham r  A            Us  what you leaned in this handgut to
   made of keratin. This hard. lightweight        insects or puncture fruit. Eagles' hooked      rsults with  prtner. Explin whr.  . i          write a bird description from your
,~ atedrial forms two kinds of feathers: the     beaks are designed to tear the flesh of         selected the beak, feet and wingsx   oa        own imagination. Keep food and
    Afeathers, which insulate the ani-           small animals, while flamingos' beaksslthe bafe                          andoniainai .Kpfdn
M      , and the stiff but flexible contour        a curved and contain filter plates            did. Base your explanation on thal *,eed        flight r   equirements in mind while writ-
   feathers. which are necessary for flight.     through which they strain mud for food.                                                        inary birds ight include Thxamples of imag-
   Many birds, like the bee-eater, grow a           A bird's wings indicate the type of          DESCRIPTIONS OF BIRDS;                                 mi ght   inclu       de The Lunchb
   rtnifentm display of colorful feathers.        flight to which it is adapted. The bee-        T   BE BUILT:                                              r The  SpiLT:  Or  thing Wor micide.
     TO fly efficiently a bird should hrve                                                                                        Or think of your own bird name and
     To fly efficiently a bird should have       eater has short wings to make the quick        1. The Leathertongued AplvwrI  t                Build a Bird!
  bones that re ton yet light. Most bird         turns needed to capture bees, while the        A compact bird that flies long ditanme


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   Title-Fill the Bill                    Name
   Adapted from "Birds,Birds,Birds",
                 p.29 + 37               Grade/Priod

                                         Date
   Purpose- To investigate the advantages/ disadvantages of bird bill
   shape for gathering a variety of bird food.
   Materials-3 eyedroppers    3 fish nets    rice          stemmed cherries
             4 pairs of chopsticks 3 tweezers puffed rice    test tube
             3 pliers          3 tongs     2 lg. containers,  culture dish
             2 lg. spoons     small log  grapes(or fake worms) walnuts
             3 strainers    popcorn    oatmeal          styrofoam chunks
             1 fill the bill worksheet        real bird heads    string
   Procedure-l.Rotate through the 8 stations and attempt to "feed" at each
   bird food station and record your success in the chart below.
    2.Look at the real bird beaks and hypothesize their possible food and
   their adaptation to get that food.
   Data/Observations-
  ._-LStation# Food Tyne    "Best Beak"       Why it is the best.
   1.


   2.


   3.


   4.


  5.



  7.      


  7.















   3.Complete the attached fill the bill worksheet.
   2.LiSummary- How are bird's beaks adapted to specificble food and the adaptation to its
  function.            *          -;-w  

11.

I  2.


   3.


   3.Complete the attached fill the bill worksheet.
   Summary- How are bird's beaks adapted to specific food types?






1                       2                        3                     i,     4

                                                                 i,
                                                                ; '        FISH AND OTHER
      NECTAR              WORMS IN THE MUD              SEEDS     ,          WATER ANIMALS

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   AND WATER ANIMALS        FLYING INSECTS          AND OTHER INSECTS   '  FRU













WHIPPOOR-WILL             SNIPE                  TOUCAN                    WABLER










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 PELICAN                HUMMINGBIRD _              GROSBEAK  -AMINGO



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         ADAPT-AmBIRD BODY PARTS

  BODIES:

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  nECKS:                     II HEADS &
                                   BEAKS:                     ï¿½








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     *                          ~~~~~~~~Nest Count Methods

                 Each fall after the leaves have fallen, a nest count

I          ~~~of the Nanjemoy Creek Great Blue Heron Rookery is conducted

            to determine the status of the Colony. This is usually

            between November 15th and December 15th, with a minimum of

*           ~~~three persons in each party.

                 The rookery is divided into three or four sections that

I          ~~~are naturally separated by stream valleys or other natural

            features. The group begins at a corner of their assigned

            section and moves across their area, methodically recording

            each tree in which nest are observed as to species of tree,

            number of nest, and the condition of each nest. Nest under

I          ~~~a tree are also noted in remarks, but not counted for the

            given tree. Also, the health of the tree is noted if it

            appears unhealthy or is now dead. (See attached data sheet.)

 *              ~~~~The nest are given a numerical rating of from one to five

            as to size and condition. This may vary slightly due to the

I          ~~~observer' s interpretation.  A map is also made to show where

*          ~~~each tree is located in relationship to the entire rookery.

           A number is assigned to each tree for the purpose of identifying

*          ~~~the position of each tree.










          Suggestions For Field Trip Activities.


1. Reconstruct a fallen nest- Nests that fallen may be
    collected in large lawn and leaf bags and reconstructed
    back at the classroom by students.

2. Identify fish remains- with the help of a "Field Guide
    to the Atlantic Coast Fishes" a Peterson Field Guide
    Series, fish remains or whole fish may be identified
   during spring trips when parents are activily feeding
    young herons.

3. Heron behavior- can be recorded through observations
   of individuals at anytime when herons are present.

4. Tape recordings- a PAROBOLIC microphone may be borrowed
    from the Nanjemoy Creek Environmantal Education Center
    for voice recording of herons.



              vqA'J41c/ 81?cA ROOKE/V
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                                Section No
Tree #   i   Species    Size   { Relative Size of Nest  Total  Remarks
                       DBH         #1  1  #2   #.  4 Nests








                            Nanjemoy Creek Heron Rookery

                                   EGG SHELL DATA
             Equipment: Micometer                          Shell
Shell No.           Hatched           Predation            Thickness



 I
                                         Soil Test
                                        Data Sheet
                Equipment: Soil Science Outfit Model AM-31
J       Station #          pH       N03       P04        K         Texture    Remarks
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     SLIDE INDEX FOR GREAT BLUE HERON LESSON PLAN


35.  American Robin's Nest with eggs
36.  Killdeer Bird at nest - ground nester'
37.  Bobwhite - male
38.  Quail's nest with eggs
39.  Close-up of a Broadwinged Hawk
40.  Yellow Billed Cuckoo Bird - front view
41.  Great Homed Owl
42.  Great Blue Heron's at nest
43.  Great Blue Heron
44.  Great Blue Heron in foliage
45.  Great Blue Heron in tree top
46.  Great Blue Heron at nest
47.  Great Blue Herons sitting and flying
48.  Great Blue Heron sitting in tree
49.  Young Great Blue Heron in nest
50.  Camouflaged Great Blue Heron - close-up
51.  Great Blue Heron at fishing area
52.  Work of a Palliated Woodpecker
53.  Mountain Laurel - close-up of blooms
54.  Swamp Azalea - close-up of blooms
55.  Scaly Blazing Star in bloom
56.  Rattlesnake Weed - close-up of bloom
57.  Downy Rattlesnake Plantain - orchard
58.  Pickerelweed
59.  White Footed Mouse
60.  Burrow of a Groundhog
61.  Groundhog or Woodchuck
62.  Mink
63.  Red Fox
64.  Skunk
65.  Shed Deer antler
66.  Beaver
67.  Beaver dam

                                 2







     SLIDE INDEX FOR GREAT BLUE HERON LESSON PLAN


68.  Beaver pond
69.  Tree felled by a Beaver
70.  Beaver lodge
71.  Beaver cutting on base of a tree
72.  Larva of the Polyphemus Moth
73.  American Holly with fruit
74.  Winterberry
75.  Running Pine (cedar) - common to Rookery
76.  Tree Club Moss
77.  White Perch - diet of Great Blue Heron
78.  White Perch - diet of Great Blue Heron
79.  Winter returns
























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