Wade Island
Encyclopedia
Wade Island is located in the Susquehanna River
in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
. Itself a part of Sheets Island Archipelago, the small island is home to Pennsylvania
's large nesting colony of heron
s and egret
s.
In May 2002, the annual survey of the waterbird colony on Wade Island in the Susquehanna River
near Harrisburg was conducted. It is Pennsylvania's sole population of nesting great egrets, which is why this species is listed as endangered. This year 142 great egret nests were found, a 14 percent decrease from 2001. Wade Island is also home to the largest black-crowned night heron
rookery in the state. Over the past decade this species has suffered a general decline. On a positive note, 107 black-crowned nests were found, 14 more than in 2001. This year surveyors noted a dramatic increase, a near doubling of cormorant nests from 11 to 21, a 91 percent increase. The most dramatic finding resulted from an assessment of the perimeter of the island taken by Pennsylvania Game Commission
biologist Cal Butchkoski during the 2002 survey. Comparison to a 1987 map revealed severe erosion on the east side of the island resulting in a loss of one third of its area over 15 years.
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. Itself a part of Sheets Island Archipelago, the small island is home to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
's large nesting colony of heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s and egret
Egret
An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets...
s.
In May 2002, the annual survey of the waterbird colony on Wade Island in the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
near Harrisburg was conducted. It is Pennsylvania's sole population of nesting great egrets, which is why this species is listed as endangered. This year 142 great egret nests were found, a 14 percent decrease from 2001. Wade Island is also home to the largest black-crowned night heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
rookery in the state. Over the past decade this species has suffered a general decline. On a positive note, 107 black-crowned nests were found, 14 more than in 2001. This year surveyors noted a dramatic increase, a near doubling of cormorant nests from 11 to 21, a 91 percent increase. The most dramatic finding resulted from an assessment of the perimeter of the island taken by Pennsylvania Game Commission
Pennsylvania Game Commission
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is the state agency responsible for wildlife conservation and management in Pennsylvania in the United States...
biologist Cal Butchkoski during the 2002 survey. Comparison to a 1987 map revealed severe erosion on the east side of the island resulting in a loss of one third of its area over 15 years.