The Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve nesting sites are located in two separate areas
referred to as "A" Islands and "B" Islands. Only the "A" Islands are easily visible from the current viewing site. Of the 779 nests counted during 1996, 256 (or about 1/3 of the total nests) were located on "B" Islands. The added viewing opportunities offered by the proposed Nature Park would make these nests easily visible to the public.
Five species of birds nest at the Rookery: Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, Double-crested Cormorants and Cattle Egrets. Visitors to the proposed Nature Park would have an outstanding view of Great Blue Heron nests, 90% of which were located on the "B" Islands.
Several of the nesting species feed on-site, primarily in the Northwest corner of the lake near the "B" Islands. With the proposed nature park, adults and children alike will have unlimited access to an unobstructed view of feeding areas and both "A" and "B" Islands, increasing the opportunities to observe and learn about these fascinating birds.
1995 data show eight rookeries throughout the State of Illinois provide nesting places for the Black-crowned Night Heron, six for the Double-crested Cormorant, and two for the Cattle Egret. The Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve provides 44 percent of the nesting area in the state for the Cormorant and nearly 100 percent for the Cattle Egret.
It would be a tragedy, indeed, if development were permitted to destroy one of the few remaining habitats for these majestic birds.
The preserve's recent history began in the late 1800s, when Plainfield Township began digging for road gravel. Chicago Gravel Company bought the quarry in 1913. One year later, steam shovels unearthed fresh-water springs that filled the quarry with water.