The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 10 No. 32 - May 12, 2010

FEATURE

Surviving heron released

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

PHOTOS PROVIDED A great blue heron is the only survivor
of a fall from its nest, caused when a county contractor
cut down the Australian pine tree holding the nest at
the Kingfish boat ramp

The sole survivor has spread his wings and returned to the wild.

Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation co-owner Gail Straight recently released the great blue heron from care after it was involved in a fall when the tree that held its nest near Kingfish Boat Ramp was cut down on Feb. 14 by a crew clearing out Australian pines near a seawall.

The chick was one of three in the nest. One of the other herons was killed by the fall while the other died later at Wildlife Inc., according to co-owner Ed Straight.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission began an investigation of the incident and turned it over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has not returned repeated calls from The Sun.

Manatee County contracted with Wood Dock and Seawall to fix the seawall at the boat ramp and Wood Dock hired Dependable Tree Service, a fully licensed company, to cut down the pines, which were next to the seawall.

 

 

 

 


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