Bird Island

You’re looking at the largest rookery in Westminster! A rookery is a colony of nesting birds, and depending on the time of year the 60+ nests before you are filled with fishing birds, raising their young. The three cottonwood trees on Bird Island is a summer home for dozens of birds, primarily Double Crested Cormorants and Great Blue Herons. These two species are some of the earliest birds to arrive each spring, traveling from southern states and Mexico. The island provides breeding ground for American White Pelicans, who require isolated land masses to successfully reproduce. Though these three species occupy a small space together, they coexist harmoniously.

If you’re visiting during the summer, take a moment to listen carefully. The birds of the island are noisy during the day, but tend to quiet down in the evening. Cormorants sound almost like a croak of a toad, and unlike any common bird. Their babies incessantly call for food during midsummer and can be seen poking their heads above the tops of the nests. Cormorants are diving birds, and excellent fishermen. They lack the preen oil that pelicans and geese spread on their feathers to stay buoyant and dry. This allows them to dive several feet underwater to hunt for larger fish, out of the reach of the other fishing birds. The downside to a lack of preen oil means frequent waterlogging. They struggle to take off the surface of the lake, and can be found perched on branches spreading their wings to use the sun and wind as a blow dryer.

The nests are constantly in a state of construction at bird island, which is why they are large and visible from the shoreline. Great Blue Herons are monogamous to a new partner each season, and the males court the females by presenting sticks for her to arrange in the nest they share. During the early summer months, the massive herons can be seen flying from all areas with large sticks in tow. Herons are often confused with bald eagles in flight. Though they share very little in appearance, their 6-7 foot wingspan is matched only by bald eagles and pelicans.

The pelicans are the largest birds you will find at Standley Lake. With a whopping 9 foot wingspan, they are rarely mistaken for anything else. Pelicans can be seen in groups, facing away from the sun and wobbling their pouch to keep cool. Unlike cormorants, they use each other to fish. They form a semi-circle to trap fish swimming near the surface. Their large pouch is used for catching their prey, and allows them to drain out the water before swallowing. Unlike portrayals in children’s movies, they do not use their pouch to carry prey to another location.