The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays’ staff developed a unique artificial nesting structure for Great Blue Heron and Egret. The design needed to meet several criteria: It had to be cost-effective; it needed to be lightweight; it had to be able to handle the harsh conditions found in the Mid-Atlantic coastal region; and it had to look more like a tree than existing nesting structures already in use.

Basic Info about the Project:

• Installed March 2009.
• 28 individual nests.
• Total cost for materials and installation was $13,427.
• Cost-share provided through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
• Additional funding provided by Rosemark DesignBuild.
• Decoys mounted to keep Ospreys away and attract Heron and Egrets.
• Nest baskets are made of 3/16” aluminum.
• Located on a privately-owned island between Indian River and Rehoboth Bay.