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• <br />• <br />• <br />AGENDA ITEM 1 D <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Marty Asieson <br />MEETING DATE: July 9, 2007 <br />TOPIC: Authorize acceptance of donation for <br />Great Blue Heron Rookery Aerial Photography <br />VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 <br />BACKGROUND <br />As part of the continuing monitoring of the Great Blue Heron rookery on Peltier Island, <br />the DNR has in the past performed an aerial inventory of nesting birds. The DNR <br />discontinued the fly -over when Steve Kittleson (regional non -game wildlife manager) <br />relocated to an out -state Minnesota location. Staff did perform the aerial survey this <br />year and had Andy Van Duyke from the University of Minnesota perform the inventory <br />of Peltier Island. Barbara Bor donated $100 to pay for this fly -over inventory. <br />ANALYSIS <br />Flyover inventory showed retuming birds with approximately 34 occupied nests. This <br />was good information in that the Herons showed up late this year for some reason and <br />we were all anxious to verify Herons on nests. Subsequent ground "truthing" found 36 <br />active nests detected in 24 trees and 27 egg fragments (chicks) found. This is at least <br />as good as last year and up from 2 fledgling birds the year before. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Staff recommends accepting Barbara Bor's donation of $100 for the 2007 spring fly -over <br />of Peltier island. <br />