Wade Island facts for kids

Wade Island is a special place in the Susquehanna River, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It's part of a group of small islands called the Sheets Island archipelago. This little island is super important because it's home to a huge group of nesting herons and egrets in Pennsylvania. Many different kinds of waterbirds come here to build their nests and raise their young.

Wade Island: A Home for Birds

Wade Island is known for being a safe haven for many waterbirds. It's especially important for two types of birds: the great egret and the black-crowned night heron. These birds build their nests high in the trees, creating a busy "bird city" or rookery.

Counting the Birds: The 2002 Survey

In May 2002, scientists and experts did an important survey on Wade Island. They visit every year to count the nests and see how the bird populations are doing. This helps them understand if the birds are healthy and safe.

Great Egrets: An Endangered Species

The survey found that Wade Island is the only place in Pennsylvania where great egrets build their nests. This is why these beautiful white birds are listed as an endangered species in the state. In 2002, experts counted 142 egret nests. This was a bit less than the year before, showing a 14 percent decrease. This kind of information helps people work to protect these special birds.

Black-crowned Night Herons: A Growing Family

Wade Island is also home to the biggest group of black-crowned night herons in Pennsylvania. These birds are known for being active at night. While their numbers had been going down in previous years, the 2002 survey brought good news! They found 107 nests, which was 14 more than in 2001. This showed a positive change for these unique birds.

Cormorants: A Big Increase

Another interesting finding from the 2002 survey was the big jump in cormorant nests. Cormorants are large, dark waterbirds that dive for fish. Their nests nearly doubled, going from 11 nests to 21 nests. This was a huge 91 percent increase, showing that more cormorants were choosing Wade Island as their nesting spot.

Changes to the Island: Erosion

The survey in 2002 also looked at the island itself. A biologist from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Cal Butchkoski, checked the edges of Wade Island. When he compared his findings to a map from 1987, he saw a big change. The east side of the island had lost about one-third of its land in just 15 years due to something called erosion. Erosion happens when water or wind slowly wears away the land. This means the island is getting smaller over time, which could affect the birds that call it home.