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Great Blue Heron rookery at Cub Creek (Jordan Lake), Chatham County NC



Forty-four active Great Blue Heron nests were found at Cub Creek (which
feeds into the northern part of Jordan Lake) during the Chapel Hill Bird
Club Spring Count on Sunday May 6th.  This represents an increase in the
size of the rookery reported at the same site last year.  In this part of
the Triangle, all neighborhoods seem to be undergoing a rapid expansion!

The Cub Creek rookery, in a flooded area of the creek perhaps a hundred
yards or so from where it enters Jordan Lake, was first reported last year
by Alan Johnston and Edith Tatum.  This year Polly Ulin joined Alan in
conducting a careful count of all the nests.  This required some
concentration as we tried to avoid being distracted by all the Red-headed
and Pileated Woodpeckers, Prothonotary Warblers, Wood Ducks, and other
wonderful birds flying back and forth as we counted the heron nests.  Our
final count included 44 active nests, with 52 adult herons and 14 juveniles
seen.  There may have been many other new-born birds which were not visible,
since many of the adults seemed to be looking down at the nests.  We decided
to tabulate the nests according to the numbers of adults and juveniles seen
sitting in or standing on the nest, as follows:

5 nests with two adults (no young visible)

32 nests with 1 adult (no young visible)

2 nests with 1 adult and 1 young

2 nests with 1 adult and 2 young

1 nest with 2 adults and 1 young

1 nest with 2 adults and 3 young

1 nest with 2 adults and 4 young  

The young birds seen were at various stages of development.  The oldest were
in the nest with 4 young.  On these birds the white topknot of the baby
plumage had turned into a shaggy black mohawk style topknot.  We were
entertained watching one of the young try to figure out how to swallow a
fairly large fish offered by the parents.  This was one crowded nest, with 4
young and two adults. Erlich, et.al. (1988) lists a time period of 56-60
Days to Fledge, so the nest will still be crowded for some time.

We searched carefully for other nests, but could not find a single nest
without at least one heron in it.  So all nests from last year are being
used again this year.  We also noticed that as we carefully approached the
edge of the swamp to look for additional nests many of the adults were
briefly disturbed and flew around for a minute or so before returning to the
nests.  We urge caution to avoid too much disturbance.

The rookery can be reached by following a marked trail (NC Game Lands) from
a parking area near the high-tension lines that cross Farrington Road
(SR1009) just south of the junction with Farrington Mill Road (SR 1726).
Heading south on 1009, pull off into an open area on the left side near the
high-tension lines.  Follow a track under the high-tension lines toward a
fence about 100 yards to the left (this track crosses a brook which can be
very muddy after rains).  At the fence, head directly into the woods on the
right and after about ten meters you will reach the marked trail.   Follow
the trail about 250 meters (toward Jordan Lake), then veer off the trail
down hill to the right until you reach the edge of the swamp.  This is an
excellent spot for viewing the rookery.  

Alan Johnston
Chapel Hill
929-8679
agj@rti.org