A heron flying through the sky
Photo by: Frank Lim

Stanley Park herons return for 25th year

March 17 2025 –

Stanley Park’s heron colony is celebrating 25 years with dozens of herons once again reestablishing their nests and courtship already in full swing! The colony near 2099 Beach Ave at the entrance to Stanley Park is home to one of the largest urban Pacific Great Blue Heron colonies in North America. Residents and park visitors are encouraged to stop by and witness these prehistoric birds dance, fight off rivals, fluff up feathers, and build nests with their chosen mates. 

More than 50 herons are already present at the colony, with over 30 active nests. It’s been a busy first couple weeks for breeding season as last year those numbers peaked at 103 and 73 for the entire summer. Last year 68 new fledglings were added to the colony, an increase from 61 the year before.

Twenty-five years is an unusually long time for herons to nest in the same area and speaks to the unique suitability of this habitat. Pacific Great Blue Herons are a subspecies of herons that has declined in BC as they do not migrate and often have difficulty finding undisturbed habitat and nesting sites. The Stanley Park Ecology Society closely monitors the colony and works with Vancouver Park Board to ensure park operations and visitors respect the heron’s nesting needs. These herons are classified as a species at risk in BC. With nearly 60% of BC’s Pacific Great Blue Heron population found in and around the Lower Mainland the productivity of the Stanley Park heronry is key to the long-term survival of BC’s population which is estimated to be 4,000 to 5,000.

Things to know when viewing the colony:

  • High tide is the best time to visit as herons leave the colony to forage for food at low tide.
  • Bring binoculars to get a closer look, observe herons from outside of fenced areas.
  • Avoid loud noises and music that can scare the herons and keep your dog on a leash.
  • Drones are not allowed in parks without a permit and should strictly not be flown around nesting birds. Drones can cause a significant disturbance resulting in colony abandonment. 
  • Buy a ticket to attend a colony tour with the Stanley Park Ecology Society.