THE YEAR OF THE HERON

From the distance of neighboring highways, the floodplain basin hardly disrupts the spreading expanse of surrounding prairie. Closer inspection, however, reveals many differences. Narrow ribbons of green border and shade the creek as it drains south across the plains. The combination of surface water and lush adjacent vegetation creates a linear oasis amongst parched surroundings. The orientation and presence of these resources provide a natural corridor for migrating wildlife, vertical niches for nesting birds and protective shelter for diverse mammal, reptile, amphibian and fish populations. This concentration of wildlife attracts hungry predators . . . including the Great Blue Heron.

In the distance, Pikes Peak, with its preceding foothills and surrounding crests, dominates the western horizon. Though permanent to our eyes, these towering ridges have changed dramatically within geologic time. We presently see a third version of the Rocky Mountains. During the last 250 million years, two previous alpine ranges cast shadows on this landscape. They in turn both yielded to the ever present forces of weathering and eroded back to level ground.

Fifty-two million years ago, ancestral herons, long-legged birds with spear-shaped beaks, appeared along this continent's salt and fresh water edges looking for food. Today's Great Blue Heron, with 63 relatives worldwide, extends the lineage of those early birds. Bitterns and egrets swell the ranks of this clan. Sixteen members of the group live in North America, twelve visit Colorado.

The rapid demise of heron and egret numbers motivated concerned individuals to start the National Audubon Society in the United States and the British Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in England. For these and other plundered bird species, "The Day of the Plume" is fortunately over. Today, however, other factors, including the global loss of wetlands, increased pollution of surface waters and the accumulation of toxic substances in the food chain, again depress heron numbers.

Counterbalancing these negative impacts, human activities have also benefited herons. Along the Front Range, the thirsts of an expanding population soon exceeded the yield of local springs. Initially reservoirs were dug to trap and store surface runoff. Anticipating continued growth and demand, the Colorado Springs Water Department purchased additional supplies from distant watersheds and constructed an intricate system for its delivery to local users. As this water moved through storage sites on route to the Front Range, expanded wetland habitats emerged. After multiple uses and subsequent treatment here, the same water eventually enters Fountain Creek.

Historically this drainage dried periodically to sandy stretches between still, intermittent pools. Imported water has converted the seasonal nature of the creek to a permanent flow. With more water in the basin, floodplain ponds, marshes and enhanced riparian edges appeared, enabling herons and numerous other species of wildlife to prosper in places unable to support them a hundred years ago.