A celebration strictly for the birds

Citizens for Conservation organized a gathering Saturday at the man-made bird rookery on Baker’s Lake in Barrington to celebrate its designation as an Important Bird Area by Audubon.

Areas designated as IBAs are sites that provide essential habitats for one or more bird species — like the black-crowned night herons, great blue herons, great egrets and double-crested cormorants that nest on the small island on Baker’s Lake.

Representatives from Audubon said the importance of this site to maintaining the black-crowned night heron population was especially conducive to the designation.

After the deaths of the last trees on the island more than a decade ago, Citizens for Conservation and other local volunteers built the artificial rookery out of recycled utility poles and annual donations of used Christmas trees.

Their efforts helped maintain a rarity in the Northwest suburbs — a perfect nesting environment for these particular bird species. The island location of the rookery provides a vital protection for hatchlings against such land-based predators as raccoons.

Speakers at Saturday’s celebration included Citizens for Conservation volunteer Patsy Mortimer, who’s overseen the entire project, and Barrington Village President Karen Darch.

“It’s just another wonderful gift to the community from this dedicated group, Citizens for Conservation,” Darch said.