Long legs allow herons to wade into lakes and ponds in search of food. Long, thin toes help them walk on the soft, mucky lake bottom without sinking or getting stuck. Heron nests are easy to spot in early spring before the trees leaf out. Three great rookeries are Kabekona rookery southwest of LaPorte on Minnesota 64, Madden s rookery north of Brainerd on County 77, and Pigeon Lake rookery south of Dassel on Minnesota 15. This nesting place is called a rookery .
Herons use dry twigs to build their sloppy nests.
A rookery might have a few nests or as many as 200 nests. Different species build their nests at different heights, from ground level to 160 feet in the air. Herons nest in big groups for a good reason - a lot more eyes watching out for predators. By building their nesting colonies near marshes, lakes, and streams, often on islands, the birds can stay away from predators such as snakes, raccoons, and foxes. Crows still can raid the nests.