SAVE the Rookery

03/09/2026

Minnesota Township Election Day is Tuesday, March 10. Local elections shape land use, development, and the future of our communities. Please make some time to learn about your local candidates and vote.

Minnesota Township Election Day is Tuesday, March 10. Local elections shape land use, development, and the future of our communities. Please make some time to learn about your local candidates and vote.

01/03/2026

Misinformation and Governance Failure:
Great blue heron colonies depend on long-standing nesting sites, yet those sites remain vulnerable to governance failures. In an Olmsted County case, misinformation influenced local government decisions, resulting in the permanent loss of a heron colony. Check our website for the latest news!

01/03/2026

Great blue heron colonies depend on long-standing nesting sites, yet those sites remain vulnerable to governance failures. In an Olmsted County case, misinformation influenced local government decisions, resulting in the permanent loss of a heron colony.

11/15/2025

North America has lost nearly one in three birds since 1970 — except in one habitat. Wetland birds actually increased, thanks to targeted conservation efforts. Their success offers a blueprint for how we can protect other habitats.

North America has lost nearly one in three birds since 1970 — except in one habitat. Wetland birds actually increased , thanks to decades of targeted conservation. Their success offers a blueprint for how we can protect other habitats.

11/15/2025

Since 1970, North America has lost 2.9 billion birds — almost one in three.
The biggest declines hit the habitats most familiar to us: forests, grasslands, and even our own neighborhoods.

But wetlands tell a different story. Wetland birds are one of the only groups to see population gains, with waterfowl increasing by more than 50%. And it happened for one reason: habitat was protected.

This is the message we need to act on. When habitat loss stops, declines stop. When we restore habitat, populations rebound. And when communities fight for the places they love — like our rookery — the impact is measurable, not symbolic.

We know what works. Now we have to apply it. 🌿🪶

10/16/2025

Speak Up for America’s Public Lands! Comment on the Proposed Repeal of the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has opened a public comment period on its proposal to rescind the 2024 Conservation and Landscape Health Rule. This Rule is a landmark policy designed to protect and restore the resilience of public lands across the United States.

A proposal now before the Bureau of Land Management would roll back key conservation safeguards for 245 million acres of public lands. Learn what’s at stake and how you can make your voice heard by submitting your public comment by November 10.

10/14/2025

Today we celebrate a major conservation WIN in Minnesota’s Northwoods! 🌲🦉

The Nature Conservancy has permanently protected 12,271 acres of forest and freshwater habitat north of Two Harbors, expanding the Sand Lake/Seven Beavers Preserve to nearly 18,600 acres — and linking together over 40,000 acres of connected habitat.

These forests and peatlands shelter moose, wolves, songbirds, and rare plants, and safeguard the headwaters of the Rainy and St. Louis Rivers, which flow into the Boundary Waters and Lake Superior.

This is the largest forest acquisition in Minnesota in 25 years — a win for wildlife, clean water, and climate resilience. 🌎💚

📍Sand Lake/Seven Beavers Preserve, Lake County, MN

10/12/2025

Migration doesn’t mean leaving a decades-old rookery to nest in another part of town. 🪶
It means vast, seasonal journeys — across regions, countries, even continents — as birds follow food, water, and daylight. 🌍
Each spring and fall, billions of birds make these incredible trips, and our great blue herons are part of that rhythm.
Learn what migration really means — and why protecting rookeries matters.
➡️ Read more at savetherookery.org and honor World Migratory Bird Day!

04/22/2025

Mark your calendars! “Your City, Your Future: Sustainability in Rochester.”Presentation by Kayla Betzold, the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Rochester. May 6, 7 PM at the Izaak Walton Cabin (937 7th Ave NE, Rochester)
Hosted by the Rochester MN Chapter of the Izaak Walton League

04/20/2025

“Harm” Redefined: A Step Backward for Endangered Species
A newly proposed federal rule would strip critical habitat protections from endangered species by redefining the word “harm.” If adopted, it would no longer be illegal to destroy the places animals need to survive — only to hurt the animals directly. This change undermines the core protections of the Endangered Species Act and puts countless species at risk. We urge our community to speak out before it’s too late. Check our website for more information and for the link to comment.

04/20/2025

A newly proposed federal rule would strip critical habitat protections from endangered species by redefining the word “harm.” If adopted, it would no longer be illegal to destroy the places animals need to survive — only to hurt the animals directly. This change undermines the core protections of the Endangered Species Act and puts countless species at risk. We urge our community to speak out before it’s too late.

The Trump administration is proposing a rule that would strip critical habitat protections from endangered species by redefining the word “harm”. If passed, it would no longer be illegal to destroy the places animals need to survive — only to hurt the animals directly. This change undermines t...

03/11/2025

Minnesota Township elections are today! Contact your local offices for information on township meetings, candidates, & voting! 🗳️ 🇺🇸