BASALT — For the second year in a row, all of the great blue heron eggs in a collection of nests near Rock Bottom Ranch near Basalt have been devoured by a hungry predator.
A golden eagle raided 11 nests on May 14, according to witnesses Shep and Mary Harris, wildlife watchers who live across the Roaring Fork River from the heronry.
Shep Harris said he was outside when he heard the screech of herons. He looked up and saw about 15 adult herons circling in the sky above the nests. He knew what it meant.
“I saw it last year, too, unfortunately,” he said.
Mary Harris said some of the herons settled in towering spruce trees alongside the cottonwoods that hold their nests. They just watched as the golden eagle feasted on the eggs.
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