Great blue herons can be seen this time of the year in big balls of sticks way up in cottonwood and other large trees along Idaho’s rivers, like the Boise, Lower Payette and Snake. These breeding or nesting areas are called rookeries. This photo was taken at a rookery along the Boise River near the location of the future East ParkCenter Bridge. It is crazy to see a bird as big and lanky as a heron balancing in a nest in a tree. Herons can be 38 to 54 inches tall and have a wing span of 66 to 79 inches, according to the Web site www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds. Herons have been coming to this rookery for as long as anyone can remember. The great blue heron is the most widespread heron in the United States.
Pete Zimowsky/ pzimowsky@idahostatesman.com