Trees with heron nests cut down!

PRESS RELEASE :Trees with heron nests cut down!

March 6, 2022

Rochester Township, MN

Landowner Steve Connelly cut down approximately 20 trees that were each home to multiple great blue heron nests just days before the great blue herons are due to return. This occurred at some point during the past few days. It is anticipated that the felled trees will be collected and taken to a sawmill in the next few days. To get the trees out, more trees may need to be felled to allow trucks to access the downed trees.

This past week there has been a local sighting of a great blue heron in the Rochester area. According to the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union, March 6th is the average date of return of the great blue heron in the Twin Cities metro.

The trees and nests on adjoining properties owned by Pat Adamson and Leal Segura/Tim Parkin that house about 25 great blue heron nests have not been disturbed.

Local residents have been fighting to save this great blue heron rookery, which had forty to fifty nests located high in the trees above Cascade creek on the three adjoining properties. Save the Rookery, an all-volunteer non-profit organization, has been working for over a year to purchase and protect the land where rookery exists.

Leaders of the Save the Rookery effort are upset about this loss, but undeterred in their goal. They will continue to press forward with three related lawsuits as they work their way through the courts.

"This is very unfortunate, but we are happy that much of the rookery is still intact. We are sure that the birds will return soon and start building new nests to replace the ones that Mr. Connelly has destroyed," said Carrol Henderson, a renowned ornithologist who has stepped up to champion this rookery, lending his support to the Save the Rookery effort.

"There is a Township Board election on Tuesday that represents an opportunity for voters to build an accountable relationship with the Board on land use issues and make their voices heard. Please look at their positions as provided in the Post Bulletin or via a link from our website, draw your own conclusions as to who will work to represent their constituents, and VOTE," said Jenna Didier, one of the leaders of Save the Rookery.

Save the Rookery still wants to purchase the land and turn it into a Scientific and Natural Area that will be preserved in its natural state in perpetuity and managed by the MN DNR.

The cutting was done when the adjoining property owners, Leal Segura and Tim Parkin, who are active in the Save the Rookery effort, were out of town.