The Shrum Mound is a prehistoric site in Columbus maintained by the Ohio
Historical Society. Its sacred grounds provide good looks at an island
in an old limestone quarry filled with scummy water. In recent years,
the craggy island has hosted many nests of wading and diving birds who
relish its wooded slopes.
        Censusing the island's birds is tough, involving some rough terrain on
the west side, but from the east today the following nests were easily
observed, and modest estimates of the unseen side were made, based on
previous visits to that side:
~ 50 great blue heron nests
~ 70 d-c cormorant nests
~ 10 great egret nests

This is one of the very small number of undisturbed substantial wooded
islands in the interior of Ohio, which often invite nests of water
birds. Also present was the pair of herring gulls whose nest failed last
year; beyond being very chummy, they showed no obvious signs of nesting
so far this year, but they seem to be ready to go if conditions are
right for a record-making event.
Bill Whan
Columbus


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