by /Suzanne Knrom

2/23/2023 Update:

Hi all,

The weather looks good for Friday’s field trip so we are definitely on for that date. With a predicted high of 39 degrees, it’ll be cold so layers and sturdy shoes are highly recommended to stay warm. Bring binoculars if you have them. 

You’re in for a real treat — especially if the herons are there. Our Pacific herons (aka Fannini) are a unique subspecies, with most living in the Salish Sea and British Columbia’s Fraser Valley regions. Unlike most great blue heron subspecies, Pacific herons don’t migrate. Habitat loss/development and bald eagle predation have profoundly affected their population over the past 30 years.

Where we’re meeting and other details are in my 2/16 email below. We’re looking forward to seeing you Friday!  

Suzanne 

2/16/2023

Nesting has begun at Renton’s Black River Riparian Forest. I visited this past weekend and we saw about 30 herons. Some were even standing in nests and one was pointing his/her beak skyward to let the others know that they were looking for a mate. 

Just before sunset, the herons in the main nesting area rose up and moved to two trees along the edge of the pond for the night. It was an absolutely stellar day. 

We were there for an hour, starting at 4:14 (sunset was at 5:30). 

We counted a total of 18 nests from last year’s season (2022): 15 nests are in the eastern section of the forest across the pond (the “Protected Forest”), and 3 nests are in western section of the forest. All were toward the middle of the dense mix of cottonwoods and alders so will be obscured by foliage once the trees leaf out late next month. 

The number of herons there now is the same as we saw last year. I find the consistency really interesting, as it could indicate that these specific herons are committed to Black River for nesting. Twenty years ago, with 135 active nests, Black River had quickly grown to become the fifth largest great blue heron colony in the state. But adjacent development depleted the richness of the habitat, and a pair of bald eagles relentlessly raided the nests for several years in a row (we named the pair Bonnie and Clyde). I can’t help but wonder if some of these birds are offspring of those herons from the halcyon days of the late 1990’s – early 2000’s.

We’d love for you to join us on our field trip. We’ll spend time watching the herons, who are probably well into the early activities of the nesting season. This is an ideal time to visit, as the cottonwoods will not leaf out until late March. Once that happens, it will be much harder to see the herons and their nests. 

We’ll also be touring the north side — another rich wetland habitat but very different from the Protected Forest. You can join us for the full tour or just focus on the herons, which will be our first part of the tour.  

The condition of the vegetated trail is good. You’ll want to wear sturdy shoes, ideally weatherproof. If it’s been especially rainy, there’ll probably be a few muddy spots. 

Details — 

Date/time: Friday, February 24, 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Meet: In the Oakesdale Center parking lot, 600 Oakesdale Ave. SW, Renton 98057. The best place for us all to gather at 3pm is near the Northwest Kidney Center.   

Three of us from Herons Forever will be leading the field trip. I established the nonprofit in 1989. In the 1990s I was very fortunate to cross paths with Dr. Kate Stenberg (through King County at the time) and Patricia Thompson of WDFW (recently retired). Their expertise, along with Rainier Audubon and Seattle Audubon, helped save this very special place from more profound impacts of development. 

Important note: In case anyone wants to visit on their own in the future, please do not go alone.  Black River Riparian Forest is 96 wooded acres and the vast majority of it is very isolated. I’ll add that if you find yourself in trouble, call 911. However the challenge would be in identifying exactly where you are because there are no markers.  

We would love for you to join us on February 24th. You’re welcome to bring others who would enjoy this. Kindly rsvp.  

Suzanne Krom, President
Herons Forever