For a relatively small organization, the Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society (AMAS)has some amazing accomplishments to its credit. It engages in all fo the typical activities of Audubon groups, including educational programs and field trips. But two points of focus really stand out: 1) More than 10 years ago AMAS held the first Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival in partnership with TransCanada, Inc. to call public attention to the natural values of Herricks Cove, a state Important Bird Area. The response was so positive that it has continued the festival annually (in May) since then. The one-day event now draws 1,500 people or more. 2) Perhaps 20 years ago AMAS learned of a great blue heron rookery on private land that deserved protection. Working with the landowners, AMAS successfully petitioned the VT Water Resouces Board for enhanced protection under the state's wetlands law. Later, noticing that the trees supporting the colony, which were in a beaver pond, where dying, AMAS experimented with artificial nesting structures of its own design as substitutes for the trees. Today the colony is thriving even though all of the trees have died and fallen, with 6 to 8 nests per year on these artificial structures.