County hopes to protect rookeries

The number of nests on three spoil islands has declined over the past five years

By WILL ROTHSCHILD



will.rothschild@heraldtribune.com

SARASOTA COUNTY -- Erosion is taking a toll on the Bird Colony Islands, and bird watchers fear one of the most successful rookeries in Southwest Florida is disappearing.

Though small in size, the islands have been home to 13 wading bird species over the years and once supported an estimated 1,000 nests. Brown pelicans, snowy egrets, great egrets, great blue herons and double-crested cormorants still nest on the islands.

But in the past five years the ...   more »