Boynton Rookery
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The most direct route to Boynton from
Tulsa is US 64 south to Bixby and Haskell, arriving at Boynton in
approximately 50 miles. The area is rolling hill country with numerous
ponds and scatterings of scrubby trees and thickets. It is sparsely
settled.
The heronry is located for the most part in two relatively small clumps of scrubby trees about 0.5 mile north of Boynton. The most recent activity has been on the north side of the road where the old stick nests can be seen in the trees. There is a large wooden sign just inside the fence at this group of trees. It designates the area as a heron refuge and warns that it is a federal offense to harm the birds or their eggs. To the north of the sign a narrow road goes up the hill to a water tower. The top of the hill provides a good view over much of the area including several ponds. The birds may be seen better from this point than from the road and are less disturbed by human encroachment. The herons arrive in early April and leave in August. April, May and June are the best months to visit the area. In April the birds are building nests. In May they are incubating the eggs. In June they are flying in and out, feeding the young. In addition to the Little Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, and Cattle Egret, the Black-crowned Night-Heron nests in the area. Great-tailed Grackles also share the groups of trees and add to the noisy confusion. Anhingas have been seen here in the past. There are numerous small birds also: buntings, orioles, kingbirds, flycatchers, catbirds, vireos, and wrens.
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