Egret Island SNA

35 Acres Located from Ashby 2 miles S on MN Hwy 78 to Pelican Lake. Park at public access on W side of the lake. Island is not readily observed from shore, but is accessible by boat. Grant County Twp 130N Rng 41W Sec 23 Type: Deciduous Woods ECS Subsection: Minnesota River Prairie

Description:

Egret Island has the largest concentration of nesting colonial waterbirds in Minnesota. This low, wooded island on Pelican Lake has two pairs of peninsulas on opposite sides, creating protected bays and marshes that provide excellent habitat. It is one of the few large nesting areas for black-crowned night herons and great egrets. Other waterbirds that have been recorded on the island include great egrets, cattle egrets, snowy egrets, great blue herons, tricolored herons, little blue herons, and least bitterns. In 1977, an estimated 10,000 nests were documented. Pelican Lake is rich in other waterfowl as well; approximately 25 pairs of western grebes nest on the lake. The Nature Conservancy maintained the site as a preserve until gifting it to the SNA Program.

Plant List

Visitor notes:

Note: This island SNA is closed to the public from April 1 to July 15 to protect nesting herons, egrets, and cormorants.