WINONA, Minn. — About 57 acres of Mertes Slough north of Winona is closed to boaters to protect nesting herons and egrets, wildlife officials announced.

The emergency closure is needed to keep from disturbing the birds, which have a tendency to abandon nests when stressed by human activity, said Mary Stefanski, Winona District manager for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
Higher water on the river this spring have made the area around the nesting site easily accessible by boat, she said.

The colony, built in the trees on the Wisconsin side of the river near the Hwy. 43/54 bridge between Winona and Fountain City, Wis., produced an estimated 700 young herons and egrets in 2007, Stefanski said.

Maps outlining the closed area will be posted at the Mertes Slough boat landing and at the refuge office in Winona. Signs also will be placed around the boundaries.

The closure will remain in effect until July 7, when most of the young birds will be fledged.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bought Mertes Slough, formerly called St. Mary’s Bottoms, from Saint Mary’s University of Winona in 1986.

For more information, call the Winona district office at (507) 454-7351.

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