Though I saw many herons sitting on the nests earlier this month, for the past week they've been gone, presumably due to eagle predation. Jenna, who lives in the house next to the heronry (she painted the beautiful "keep out" sign now standing at the end of the road) says she has seen eagles sitting on a log in the ravine, eating something.
Also, there's a yellow city sign now posted at the end of the road, a notice of the subdivision for the six townhouses.
If the herons are gone, there's no point to the website. I haven't put the signs up this year.
Mission Statement
The Oly Friends of Herons web site was created to provide information relating to the Great Blue Herons that nest in the vicinity of the west side Olympia Food Co-op. The nests are located in an area slated for development; 6 townhomes are going to be built 3 blocks northeast of the Co-op.
If anyone is reading this, please leave a comment so I'll know you're out there.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists recomend that this web site not reveal the exact location of nests. The presence of people can disrupt breeding activity. Nests can be observed with binoculars or spotting scopes from the road. The link to Black River Herons also provides information about how herons are observed there without disruption.
On this site, I hope to answer questions such as: What are the developer's responsibilities re: the rookery? What parameters do great blues use for selecting nesting sites? Will trees that meet these parameters be left in the two tree lots that the development will have? What does the developer think about the herons?
If anyone is reading this, please leave a comment so I'll know you're out there.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists recomend that this web site not reveal the exact location of nests. The presence of people can disrupt breeding activity. Nests can be observed with binoculars or spotting scopes from the road. The link to Black River Herons also provides information about how herons are observed there without disruption.
On this site, I hope to answer questions such as: What are the developer's responsibilities re: the rookery? What parameters do great blues use for selecting nesting sites? Will trees that meet these parameters be left in the two tree lots that the development will have? What does the developer think about the herons?
Thurston County Rookeries
Click for a map.
Site Plan for Townhomes
Click to see the plan.
Area to be Developed
Click for Geodata map
Heron Links
Olympia Links
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- what the young look like now (1)
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2 comments:
I live two blocks north of the Olympia Food Coop and I've seen at least a dozen herons coming in to roost each evening for the last couple of days. On a walk on Satuday I saw them come in around 5pm. On Sunday I saw an Eagle cruising the area north of my house.
Don't give up... Let's get organized. Let me know how I can help? deane@efn.org
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