By LINDA McALPINE – GM Today Staff
January 31, 2014
BROOKFIELD – Plans to put up some artificial nesting platforms for a great blue heron rookery may be on hold because of the weather – it has been just too nice outside.
The rookery, part of which is in Brookfield and part on private property in the town of Brookfield, at 19400 W. Capitol Drive is home to more than 100 herons and straddles a wetland.
And therein lies the problem, according to Tami Ryan, area wildlife supervisor for the state’s Department of Natural Resources.
We need a blast of arctic weather so the ground will freeze so we can get into the wetland,” she said.
The DNR, We Energies and American Transmission Company are working together on a plan to install 40 power poles with nesting platforms attached to replace some of the trees the herons had been using for nests that were blown over in a windstorm last fall.
Ryan said the poles hold between four and six platforms each, so as many as 100 spots for nests will be added once the poles are in place.
There is a risk that without the new nest sites, the herons, which return to the area in late March, could decide to move elsewhere.
Bill Kolstad, Brookfield’s park and recreation director, said that if the weather cooperates and the ground freezes, the installation project would take about three days.
The plan was approved by the Brookfield plan commission last week but still needs to go before the city council at its meeting at 7:45 p.m. Feb. 7 at Brookfield City Hall.
