Livingston Brook Heron Rookery

In 2003, Battenkill Conservancy received a gift of a 16.8 acre wetlands known as the Livingston Brook Heron Rookery. It is located off MacDougall Lake Road where the brook flows into the Battenkill located less than a half mile from the wetlands. The wetlands make up  approximately 25 acres that provides prime nesting areas for up to a dozen Great Blue Herons each spring. 

The first summer, the site hosted 15 nests and produced 4 nesting pairs of herons. In the spring of 2005 only 1 pair of herons returned after a pair of ospreys took up residence in one of the nests.  Ravens, pileated woodpeckers, numerous redwing blackbirds, tree swallows, evening grosbeaks, american goldfinches and other songbirds have been sighted at the rookery.  Beaver dams ensure the wetlands provide good habitat to wood ducks and other water fowl. We encourage you to go visit the rookery for quiet observation of the wildlife. It was recently chosen to be featured as one of NY State's Watchable Wildlife locations.  Parking is along the roadway. We ask that the nests are observed from the roadway edge as there is not a walking trail around the site.

Battenkill Conservancy - Preserving & Enhancing the Battenkill Watershed