The Rookery

"Do you know why they call this place the Rookery?” Elodin asked.

I shook my head.

“Because it’s where you go if you’re a-ravin’.”

He smiled a wild smile. He laughed a terrible laugh.

~ Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

US 50, known as the "Loneliest Road in America,"* crosses the country from Ocean City, Maryland to West Sacramento, California. It passes through small town America, including Bainbridge in southern Ohio. Bainbridge is the home of the Dental Museum (more on that later) and Arc of Appalachia.** Just to the west of Bainbridge is a large field on the north side of the highway. The far boundary of the field is Paint Creek. In the tree line at the edge of the creek are five or so trees containing giant nests. It's a rookery.

Last year we were in and around Bainbridge in mid-May. We saw the enormous nests, but had no clue who/what nested there. This year large birds could be seen balancing on the edges of the nests.

What were they?

Great Blue Herons.

Most of the roadways in Ohio have no "shoulders." US 50 is no different. We searched for a spot to pull off the highway safely. Then our friend KR from the Arc told us about Falls Road - paralleling Paint Creek to the north. She said that we could get a good look at the rookery from there and would not be bothered by traffic.

We tried for photos three times. We ended up with photos from both sides - from across the field and across the creek. We saw the adult herons and babies in the nests. It was one of those Ohio moments, a disclosure of something we had never seen before.

We knew there were thin places here. We had been to a few. This might just be one.

It was obvious these were nests and large birds, but we couldn't see clearly. After seeing heron after heron flying up and down Rocky Fork Creek. We were staying at an Arc property just off Cave Road and overlooking Rocky Fork Creek.

These "clearer" photos were taken from a dirt road just off US 50. I took the photos quickly in the event the landowner decided they didn't want us stopped there.

By this point I knew they were Great Blue Herons, but I hadn't gotten a decent view. My camera is just good enough to bring the birds into view. Clearly some are tending to young. One chick can be seen on the far left.

Other rookeries I have seen have always been too far away or too crowded to get a view of any details. This was so interesting.

Some nests appeared empty while others appeared to contain birds incubating eggs.

"Unipedal Resting"***

From Falls Road the view is a little difficult due to the growth of trees along both sides of Paint Creek. And the brush is full of creeping creatures - I brushed off flies and danced the "get off me" tick dance.

It was pretty windy at the nests.

I was frustrated trying to get photos.

I hesitated to walk too far into the brush and too close to the creek.

Great Blue

There are small ditches along the roads and leading to the creek.

DH waited in a small "pull-over."

NOTES:

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_50
**http://arcofappalachia.org/
***https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2013/12/28/why-do-herons-stand-on-one-leg/