Every Spring, the herons of Verulamium Lake return to their heronry on the North Island to nest. They start in January so the recent very cold weather may have badly affected some of the earlier nesters. As the weather warms, RSPB St Albans runs Heronwatch to showcase these urban herons to park visitors.
This year it coincides with Sustainable St Albans Week. Each Saturday and Sunday during the Week, from 11am-3pm, you will be able to find 3-4 volunteers at the Fighting Cocks end of the lake, with telescopes and a video camera, bringing the nesting herons into view. By April, chicks will be visible and making a racket when parents bring their food in. We will also be looking out for the white Little Egrets, which have recently colonised the heronry too. Come along and stay for a while to find out more about your local park, and its amazing heron city.
If you’d like to volunteer as an Heronwatcher, visit the RSPB St Albans website for details. ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/StAlbans Experienced watchers will be on hand to show you how to do it.