[SWAMPSNIPER]

They do best when they can nest over a gator wallow. The gators keep the furry predators away.

[mtbopfuyn]

There’s no mystery why the blue herons have largely left my neck of the woods. It’s because McMansion development came and in bulldozed down their nesting trees. I’m slackjawed that the ever nosy water authority did nothing but then again there was probably some behind the scene money passing.

[Daffynition]

I'm sorry I can't view the rest of the article without subscribing ...but heron rookeries, like the one of these great blues, are amazing.