Keep your eye out this spring for great blue herons.
The large birds should be building nests in trees in forests around the Tri-Cities. And local biologists want to find out how many there are and where they are located for a database that could be used to help protect the threatened species.
Biologist Aimee Mitchell has partnered with the South Coast Conservation Program to monitor the herons this spring, as well as several other species at risk living in the Buntzen Lake and Coquitlam River watersheds where BC Hydro, the project's funder, operates..
Herons are in the spotlight because of some changes that are taking place in local colonies that could be part of an overall decline in the species in the last few years. Mitchell, who is also studying the birds in other regions, said the Alouette River heron colony appears to have crashed and a heronry at Colony Farm Regional Park in Coquitlam may have moved.
"I have been in touch with various people about the status of that colony and, yes, as part of this project, we want to know how it's doing. I have had info shared with me that they are declining," Mitchell said in an email.
People usually look for large groups but herons will often nest as solitary pairs or in groups of five pairs or fewer, Mitchell said, adding, "We want people to keep their eyes out for nest-building behaviour [carrying sticks] at this time of year and not just be focused on looking for large, obvious colonies."
Elaine Golds, a director with Burke Mountain Naturalists and The Tri-City News' Green Scene columnist, is also concerned about the herons' whereabouts.
FEWER IN COLONY FARM
Last year, she and other naturalists noticed the Colony Farm herons disappeared and while some have been sighted this spring, their numbers have dropped from 200 in previous years to about 18.
Golds doesn't believe they'll move back to the western end of Colony Farm, where the old Port Mann Bridge is being dismantled.
"Typically, these herons would move over to their colony at the mouth of the Coquitlam River in late March but we suspect this site is likely to stay abandoned," she said.
Mitchell wants people to look for other species as well.
As many as 152 species at risk make their home in the Tri-Cities area; in addition to herons, biologists want to hear about sightings of western painted turtles, the northern red-legged frog, pacific tailed frog, the western toad and owls such as the western screech owl, the short-eared owl and the barn owl.
To find out more or to make a report, visit www.sccp.ca.
