By: David Casaletto, Executive Director, Ozarks Water Watch

The topic of this newsletter was born out of a public vote of sorts. I post various water related news articles, currents events and interesting pictures on the Ozarks Water Watch Facebook page. While we have as of today 429 total "LIKES" most of my posts only receive 20 to 50 viewers. A week ago, I took my daughter and granddaughters out on the boat to look at the Blue Heron rookery that is on an island in front of Virgin Bluff on the James River arm of Table Rock Lake. (I look at Virgin Bluff out my front door.) 

My daughter is becoming a very talented photographer and she took some photographs that I posted on Facebook this week. We have already had 199 viewers of those pictures! 

So with that response, I decided to share our Blue Heron adventures with our newsletter readers. All the pictures in this article were taken, at various times, by my daughter, Angela Sieg, and all near my home. There are also 20 larger photos posted in an album on the Ozarks Water Watch Facebook page.

In my opinion, the Great Blue Heron has become a symbol of clean water. Many watershed groups incorporated it into their logo. The Sustainability Group on their website indicate that they chose the blue heron as their logo because they believe it is a global symbol of sustainability. A blue heron adorns the cover of our just released Status of the Watershed Report.

In addition, herons are used as indicator species by scientists who can measure the health of the habitat by the health of the heron. For example, in one study, the purpose was to determine whether Great Blue Herons would serve as a good monitoring species for contaminants in fish eating birds. To be a good indicator species, herons needed to have a wide distribution, high food-chain status, nest fidelity, and low sensitivity to contaminants. Great Blue Herons met all four criteria.  

Great Blue Herons are the largest herons that can be found in North America. Although the Great Blue Heron lives near inland sources of water, such as along rivers, lakes, and saltwater seacoasts, and in marshes and swamps, they often avoid marine habitats along the east coast. This habitat is key to a Great Blue Heron's diet because it mainly consists of fish. Their diet also includes frogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, birds, small mammals, shrimp, crabs, crayfish, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and many other aquatic insects. Great Blue Herons locate their food by sight and usually swallow it whole. 

Great Blue Herons breed throughout North and Central America, and the Caribbean. They nest in colonies up in trees or large bushes that stand near water. Within these rookeries, Great Blue Herons are extremely territorial and aggressively defend their nests. They breed once per year and can lay from 2 to 7 eggs per season. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and then, once the eggs are hatched, both parents care for and feed the chicks. Great Blue Herons chicks take from 60 to 82 days to fledge. It is a pleasure to share the lake with this majestic bird.

Quote of the Week

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To Heaven and Back on the Upper Jacks Fork

MDConline

March 19, 2013

The forecast calls for thunderstorms and heavy rains, but we go anyway. Our trip really starts to come together once we agree to have no plan. We are prepared for anything, except for what Mother Nature serves up-sunshine, gently overcast skies, and a light breeze. We are blessed with two perfect days on the river, and we leave with a lifelong desire to return.

Upper Jacks Fork

Once described as the Mozart of rivers, the upper Jacks Fork is one of Missouri's wildest and most scenic rivers. It's a deep and narrow valley that offers spring paddlers a spirited float. Conservation Department photographer Dave Stonner and I embark on a leisurely two-day canoe float from the Buck Hollow Access, northeast of Mountain View, to Bay Creek, a distance of 18 miles. The river is low, so we pack light.

A Paddler's Paradise:

The shallow water is moving fast now. The 30-foot wide stream has narrowed into a frothing riffle only 6 feet wide. I'm using every paddle trick I know to keep my canoe in the center of the current, as it swiftly pulls me toward a tall bank of imposing rock. The clear water is liquid light, and I'm scant inches above the gravel bottom, which is zipping by in magnified detail. I duck as a low-hanging sycamore branch tries to snatch my river hat. Around the bend, a deep emerald-tinged pool provides pause. I'm smiling ear to ear and I finally remember to breathe.

To read more, Click HERE.

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