Blue Herons Nest at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

When was the last time you visited Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP)? If it’s been a while, then now is a good time to change that!  Spring is revealing itself all over the park, most notably at the Bath Road Heronry.

I  have lived roughly 5 miles from CVNP for over a decade and just learned about this local nesting site of the great blue herons this year! If you’ve not heard about it before now, I’d loved to hear from you as my desire is to share the beauty, culture and wonder that surrounds us everyday (leave me a comment).

The heronry is situated just south of Bath Road (between Riverview and Akron Peninsula roads) making it a drive-up destination, so even those with limited mobility can enjoy this outing.

It’s easy to find, especially this time of year, as you will likely see wildlife enthusiasts or curious onlookers gazing upward with binoculars or zoom lenses.

So what is a heronry?  It’s the tree-top destination, also called a rookery, where herons gather together to nest and raise their young. It’s the collective nature of a heronry that makes it particularly fascinating and worth a visit, especially since herons are typically a solitary bird.

According to the CVNP website, the Bath Road Heronry currently boasts roughly 120 nests built in two trees over multiple generations of birds.  The male herons arrive first, typically in early February, to claim their nests, followed shortly by the females.

Nest repair is part of the mating ritual.  The male collects sticks and offers them to the waiting female in the nest, which strengthens their bond. A strong bond is important as both male and female will participate in incubating the eggs and caring for the young once hatched.

After nest repair is complete, mating occurs, followed by hatching, typically late April or early May (in other words…about now). In May and June the herons are busy collecting and bringing food back to the nest, making it an exciting time to visit (even though the leafing trees may begin to obscure the nests a bit).

Great blue herons are spectacular for viewing.  Their gawky ground presence, standing about four feet tall atop spindly legs, combines with their elegant curved neck and impressively broad, blue-tinged wingspan (roughly seven feet in width) to create a captivating water fowl.

With this combination of unique features, blue herons are a sight worth seeing…

whether in flight…

preparing their nests…

or hunting in the surrounding wetlands, at Beaver Marsh, or along the banks for the Cuyahoga River.

Make a plan to visit soon and often…I think you’ll be glad you did!

Things to know if you go:
Location: South side of Bath Road, between Riverview and Akron Peninsula roads (in CVNP).
Hours:  Daylight hours
Cost: Free
Special Notes: Be careful of traffic, this is a busy road.