{"id":15765,"date":"2021-05-21T11:18:43","date_gmt":"2021-05-21T15:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=15765"},"modified":"2021-06-11T17:35:45","modified_gmt":"2021-06-11T21:35:45","slug":"protecting-a-home-for-herons-in-worcester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/protecting-a-home-for-herons-in-worcester\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting a Home for Herons in Worcester"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Once a rare sight in the northeast US due to hunting pressure and pollution, Great Blue Herons have staged a staggering comeback in the past few decades. Now, these statuesque wading birds can be seen at ponds, lakes, and rivers of all sizes, often in surprisingly urban areas. Their impressive size and graceful flight have won them many admirers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Great
\u00a9 Joe Howell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While spotting a heron on its own is a sight to see, it\u2019s nothing compared to coming upon herons standing over their just hatched fuzzy-headed young, in what is known as a “heronry.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These communal nesting grounds can contain up to 50 herons and there\u2019s one in Worcester that could use your help to protect it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saving Heron Pond <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Adjacent to Mass Audubon\u2019s Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary<\/a>, Heron Pond <\/a>is a 17-acre urban wetland that features not only a heronry but an active beaver colony. Mass Audubon is partnering with the City of Worcester to purchase a permanent Conservation Restriction (CR) on the land. A CR is a legally binding agreement that permanently protects certain conservation values of a property while allowing the land to remain in private ownership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located within a state designated Environmental Justice Population<\/a> and upstream of a federally designated high-risk area for flooding<\/a>, protecting this land will provide opportunities for more people to connect with nature and bolster the climate resilience of the neighborhood by providing flood storage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We just need your support to raise the final $36,000<\/a> to make this happen. Please consider making a gift today! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donate now <\/a>><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

— Nancy Cowan<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Once a rare sight in the northeast US due to hunting pressure and pollution, Great Blue Herons have staged a staggering comeback in the past few decades. Now, these statuesque wading birds can be seen at ponds, lakes, and rivers of all sizes, often in surprisingly urban areas. Their impressive size and graceful flight have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-land-protection"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/4124Joe_Howell17675-750x500-a214c69a-2bb8-408a-82eb-2e257bf72645.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-46h","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10778,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-great-blue-herons\/","url_meta":{"origin":15765,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Great Blue Herons","author":"Ryan D.","date":"April 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Migrating great blue herons arrive in New England as early as the latter part of March, where they join the small population of great blues that overwinter here. 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This common wetland bird looks small and compact\u2014but then something startles it, and up goes the head on a loooooong neck. Past participants in our Photo Contest have captured this bird in graceful and funny poses. 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Nests take all shapes and sizes and incorporate different materials from big sticks (ospreys and herons) to dead grass, twigs, and fibers (robins, orioles, and warblers). 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Sandwiched between the two cities\u2019 downtown areas, its 700+ acres of forest, river, wetlands, and\u00a0restored grasslands are remarkably\u00a0diverse and easily accessible. 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