Hearing begins on fate of herons' nesting site Attorneys representing the developer and land owner where a heron rookery is located want a restraining order lifted. 6:48 pm, Apr. 28, 2021 × Great blue herons sit among their nests in Rochester Township Thursday, March 25. (Photo contributed by the Zumbro Valley Audubon Society) Attorneys representing the landowner and developer of a site of a heron nesting colony on the planned subdivision say the nests no longer need court protection. The rookery containing up to 50 great blue heron nests in Rochester Township was the reason Olmsted County District Court Judge Pamela King issued a temporary restraining order March 20 pausing development.