Date:         Sun, 4 Mar 2007 22:59:51 -0500
Reply-To:     Mark McShane <mcshane1@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Mark McShane <mcshane1@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      TRP Chattahoochee NRA Cochran Shoals - 4 active Great Blue Heron
              Nests in one tree !!!

Hi All (first post),

I am a beginning birder and was surprised to see four Great Blue Heron nests
in a single pine tree this morning while birding the Chattahoochee National
Recreation Area - Cochran Shoals Unit!

I have seen many Great Blue Herons before but have never seen a tree with
many nests with herons in them and the birds coming and going, even two in
one nest!  They were very beautiful, graceful, and impressive in their
activity to/from and at the nests (they were at the nests at about 11:00am
when I first discovered them).  Not sure if they are finished building the
nests as all four nests look to be built to the same height which I think is
not very high yet, 3 of the 4 nests were occupied while I was there and many
herons were fishing in the river close by as well.

If you want to see the nests too then start at the parking lot on the west
side of the river (a stone's throw north of I-285 and the Chattahoochee
River) and head north along the west bank of the river on the main walkway.

Just go to the first BOARDWALK, I think it's the first trail on the left
(the local trail sign maps show where the first boardwalk on the left is).
Go up the boardwalk to the one place on that boardwalk where there is a
little seating area/platform, stop there in the middle of the seating
area/platform, turn 90 degrees to your right, and look out over the
platform, in the distance, and looking past the small trees close to the
platform, you will see a large pine tree (maybe about 80-120yds out), the
nests are in the left and right upper parts of the tree (the view is quite
good with binoculars).  I don't know if the tree will be easy to see once
all the spring foliage comes in around the boardwalk!  Not sure how long the
herons nest.  Also saw about 20 other species on the trip.  Enjoy!

Mark McShane
Lawrenceville, GA

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