Biology Project Abstract
DYNAMICS OF THE MORRIS GREAT BLUE HERON ROOKERY (2002)
Presenter:
Jonathan Warnock, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; jonw@imsa.edu
Advisor:
David Workman, Ph.D., Science, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; workman@imsa.edu; 630-907-5915
Astract:
Since 1999 we have been observing a Great Blue Heron rookery that is located along the Illinois river, just south of Morris, Illinois, in Grundy county. We have been monitoring the number of nesting pairs and the number of chicks raised to adulthood in the rookery. A detailed map of the rookery has been made, and we have made a count of nests. Nests are located in three main sycamore trees, and the birds have begun to expand to surrounding trees for more nesting space. A blind has been installed to help us monitor the birds. We have found the number of chicks raised to maturity declined significantly between the 2000 and 2001 breeding seasons. We hypothesize that this may be due to road construction taking place in the area. We are also observing the heron rookery that is located at Fermi Lab. This will give us a good idea of how a rookery that is unaffected by human population operates. The heron skeleton that was begun last year will be finished and displayed by the end of the year.