[BCNnet] IBET and BCNnet: Black-crowned Night-herons nesting on South Pond Island - human sightings requested

[birdchris at aol.com]

Geoff and I birded all day in Lincoln Park on Sunday and spent time checking out the new Black-crowned Night-Heron nesting colony on the island in South Pond.

The Black-crowned Night-herons seem committed to nesting on the site and the Cattle Egret pair acted like they wanted to join the nesting party.

Some Lincoln Park birders reported that construction crews were disturbing the birds by sawing at vegetation on the island yesterday. I called the IDNR and talked to the endangered species program head. He said that the Lincoln Park Zoo has promised to keep construction crews away from the south end of the pond until the nestlings are out of the nests. He's alerted the northern Illinois IDNR office head and the consulting biologist who will talk to the zoo. Black-crowned Night-herons are an Illinois Endangered Species so they are supposed to be protected from all disturbance, especially when nesting. 

If you are near the pond and construction notice workers?near the nesting island disturbing the birds, please let me know by email right away. I promised to keep IDNR in touch about this situation. Vigilance is needed to protected these birds. 

Thanks, Christine Williamson
Chicago/Cook
birdchris at aol.com
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