This is one of two sites in the CVNP for watching the herons in a rookery. The viewing area is accessible from a pull off lane off found right off of Bath Road. You may sit in your vehicle or exit and get a better viewpoint. There are many great angles and views here. Bring your binoculars, a spotter scope, a camera and enjoy the great birdwatching action here. You'll be so close to the action here, it's fantastic.
Our family enjoys this spot very much from late February thru spring. March is a great viewing month, the herons are very active in collecting their nesting sticks, courting their mates, mating, 'fighting' each other, lot of action happening. When the heron flies, it reminds me of a pterodactyl, a flying dinosaur. They also seem to fly with little effort, one or two flaps of the wings and they're airborne. Great bird to watch and listen to, they are very noisy here. One of my favorite sounds is a smacking sound they make when they snap their bills together while squabling with each other.
You'll see many professional photographers here with thousand dollar equipment taking photos. The evening light provides stunning photo opportunities.
A Wayside installed by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association has this info on it:
Treetop Territory
A heronry, like the one across the street, is a nesting area created high in the treetops by great blue herons (Ardea herodias). This migratory bird is an impressive and increasingly common sight in the Cuyahoga Valley.
Males typically return to the heronry in early February to select a nesting site. Females arrive a few weeks later to find a mate. Courtships is complex and significant in establishing a season-long bond.
Females lay 3 - 7 eggs, which hatch in late April or early May. Young birds can be seen in the nests from late May until they fledge in July. Juveniles leave the nest after 60 days and, if they survive their first winter, may live for another twenty years.
Nests are typically four feet wide and two feet deep. Constructed of twigs and lined with soft material like moss and leaves, nests are often used year after year.
The recent establishment of nesting colonies in the valley is a reflection of favorable habitat protection by the National Park Service, City of Akron, and other organizations and private individuals.
Courtship displays are important for attracting a mate and maintaining the pair bond. Male herons present sticks to females reinforcing bonding and territory acceptance. Watch for these displays February thru April.
Great blue heron feed primarily on fish and small aquatic animals. They hunt by stealth, standing motionless until stabbing or grabbing prey with their long bill.
The blue heron is called GREAT for good reason. These wading birds stand four feet tall, have a wingspan of nearly seven feet, and weigh between five and eight pounds.
More info here: http://www.nps.gov/cuva/naturescience/birds.htm
Parking is near the posted waymark coordinates.