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From late March to early May 2013, repeated bald eagle attacks on the nests of great blue herons located in Kiwanis Memorial Preserve Park led to herons leaving the colony. Approximately one-half of the herons that had established the 90-plus nests in Kiwanis appeared to move to nearby Commodore Park to begin re-nesting. For more on this please see:Heron Watching.

I was walking around KRS today with Mike Marsh. We were delivering plants for this Saturday's Seattle Works work party, when I noticed two shrubs that were in flower. They looked interesting, but we couldn't identify them on the spot. Any idea what the plant is pictured at the left? How about the one pictured below? If you think you know, would you send an email to info@heronhelpers.org? Thanks. The first one is: Cornus sericea, red-osier dogwood (or creek dogwood. The second one is: Viburnum edule, high-bush cranberry.

Would you like to see close-up live video of Great Blue Herons nesting and feeding their chicks? Seattle's largest colony of herons nests six months a year near Magnolia's Discovery Park, but the nests are so well hidden the public can rarely see them. HHH is studying the possibility of installing two interpretive remote viewing stations in the visitor centers at Discovery Park and the Ballard Locks, and we need your input.
A short survey will be posted here soon.

When I first got to KRS last Saturday, I walked around a bit, just to see how the place was doing. The plants were in good shape. Nothing was dried out. The Pacific Crest kids had been there weeding and doing trail maintenance. As I walked around, the thing that struck me the most was the new growth on the trees and shrubs and their robust size. I'm not a botanist by training, so I am just beginning to be able to recognize some of the trees by their growth habit. Any idea what kind of tree is pictured at the left? How about either of the two trees pictured below? If you think you know, would you send an email to info@heronhelpers.org? Thanks. Counterclockwise from upper left: Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, and Grand Fir.

I happened to read an article in today's Seattle Times about a local scientist, Dan Jaffe, who is concerned about the effects of the proposed increase in coal trains passing through Seattle (and next to Kiwanis Ravine). The article was written by Danny Westneat and can be read at: http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020941140_westneat08xml.html. Dan Jaffe, a respected chemist at UW would normally fund his research through government or corporate grants, but apparently these sources are not inclined to fund this particular research. I find this shocking, since I live near the railroad, and the railroad runs right next to Kiwanis Ravine, Seattle's first Wildlife Sanctuary, where the Great Blue Heron, voted Seattle's Bird, has a large colony. Wouldn't we like to know if we will be poisoned by these coal trains? In a brilliant plan to side step this block in establishment funding, Jaffe has reached out for public funding through an organization called Microryza. I donated today. You can donate, too. Go to:https://www.microryza.com/projects/do-coal-and-diesel-trains-make-for-unhealthy-air.

Protection Island is a small island located 1.5 km north-east of downtown Nanaimo, BC, Canada. There are no paved roads on the little island. Some residents move about the island in golf carts, others with cars, but most walk.

Heron Happenings on Protection Island, BC

Spring is my favourite time of year. Everything is bursting with life and beauty. As the waters in the eelgrass beds warm, Shiner Perch give live birth to their young. The herons gather near the nest site, pair up and the female birds feed on the young perch that provide nourishment for her eggs to develop. Male herons develop magnificent head and chest plumes, and then pluck enticing branches to present to the females for the nest. Courtship ensues with much display and vocalization! Tonight as I paddled home, one of the adult herons...Read More from the adventures of Trudy Chatwin.

The National Geographic website has lots of wonderful information to peruse, but it also has some wonderful jigsaw puzzles for your entertainment. Here are two puzzles that feature the Great Blue Heron. You can change the degree of difficulty by changing the number of pieces in the settings. Enjoy! Fishing on the Dam and In Flight