Annual ECWA Heron Rookery Tour

Come out with us and enjoy one of Durham's greatest treasures: the Heron Rookery!

Every spring, minutes from downtown Durham, a large colony of great blue herons and great egrets build 4-foot wide nests high above Ellerbe Creek. This heron “rookery” is one of the few known nesting sites of great egrets in the entire Piedmont of North Carolina, and this is the one time of year that all of these birds gather to raise their young.

Day of Details:

The hike is mostly flat, pressed trail, not strenuous.

Please bring:

- Water

- Sun Protection (hike will mostly be covered, shaded area)

- Long pants & long sleeves (in case of ticks)

- Binoculars if you have them (we will have extras on site if not!)

To protect the safety of the herons, no dogs on this hike, please! (Service animals welcome)

You can support the work of ECWA and help us continue to protect green space by becoming part of our "flock" of monthly sustainers at

Host or Publisher Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association