Pacific great blue herons
return to Stanley Park nest site

February 23, 2010 (No. 9) - Like clockwork, Pacific great blue herons have returned to their nest site in Stanley Park. The herons have been nesting in the large colony located in the trees that tower above the Park Board’s Administrative Offices and the tennis courts since 2001.

In 2009 the herons occupied 145 nests in 21 trees and produced more than 175 fledglings by the end of the season, which is in August.

Park Board staff have secured the gates of the fenced areas below the heronry to reduce disturbances to the heron colony and to protect passers-by from falling debris. Earlier this year Stanley Park Ecology Society and the Park Board wrapped the nest trees with large sheets of metal in an effort to discourage predators such as raccoons from climbing the trees.

The Pacific great blue heron is considered a species of special concern in British Columbia. An average bird stands about one metre tall, has a wing span of 180 cm and can live as long as 17 years. Reports of herons nesting in Stanley Park were first documented in the mid 1920s and although the herons have been regular inhabitants of the park, they have tended to migrate from one area of the park to another over the years. Predators include bald eagles, raccoons and owls.

The Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES)  monitors the herons throughout the nesting season and has an Adopt-a-Nest program. To find out more about SPES and the Stanley Park heron colony visit www.stanleyparkecology.ca 

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For more information contact:
Barb Floden, Communications Coordinator, at (t) 604-257-8438 or (c) 604-992-5646, or
Robyn Worcester, SPES conservation Programs Manager, at 604-681-9453 or 604-257-6908

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 220 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.