Great Blue Heron Closeup on Floating Platform

One of the long term environmental projects of the Conservancy is the annual deployment of floating platforms.  The cedar timber platforms were built by volunteers and early in the Spring are anchored in a shallow end of the lake.  The platforms have been used successfully by nesting birds such as geese and ducks, and by many other local wildlife including  mice, muskrats, mink, beavers, frogs, eagles, plovers, and flycatchers.

In this video, a young Great Blue Heron visits the platform and show subtle behaviors of preening and stalking prey.  Herons catch fish, frogs, salamanders, mice, and small birds.

Link to the video: