Herons Forever News

Seattle Times article: Did you see the March 26, 2010 article in the Seattle Times about herons and eagles? If not, here's the link -- http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011454352_eagleheron27m.html 

The reporter accurately describes the difficult situation we find ourselves in regionally. According to the article, "The fate of herons has implications beyond their own species. A 2007 report for the Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership, by biologist Ann Eissinger, called herons a "sentinel for nearshore function and health."

"Another biologist, Kate Stenberg, of Sammamish, said it's possible eagles are preying on herons partly because other traditional sources of food, such as waterfowl in wetlands and fish in area streams, are less abundant than they used to be.

" 'We need to think about what's going on in the bigger environment. We need to think about having adequate habitat and food resources for the eagle,' Stenberg said."

Be sure to read the article for the more information about this important issue.

More news: During the nesting season, we send out Black River updates every week. They include photos taken by our volunteer photographer, Mike Hamilton (all the images on this website are taken by him). If you would like to receive our updates, sign up via "Updates By Email" on the left side of this page. Membership is FREE. We never share the names of our members with anyone, ever.

Mike Hamilton's photos of Black River and the region: You can see Mike's photos on his website --

www.MikeHamilton.biz (new address as of 8/2010)

He usually updates on Saturday evenings, -- sometimes though, it's a little later, so Sundays at the latest. If you would like to travel vicariously with him as he explores the region, you can write him at mikeham@frontier.com and ask to be on his mailing list. His photos are exceptionally beautiful and it's a treat to end each day with his record of his daily adventures, usually with his trusty companion, Ronan, an aging Labrador retriever mix. Amazingly, it's completely free, as is membership to Herons Forever.  

 

Latest news:

Check Mike's website for his ongoing descriptions of what he's seeing at Black River -- http://www.mikehamilton.biz/black_river_notes.htm

It's an excellent way to stay current.

 

Wednesday, April 21, 2010:

Dear Herons Forever friends,

So far, things look really good – although a lot of us are holding our collective breath hoping that this season continues to be uneventful for the herons. They sure deserve a break after the past several years of enduring Bonnie and Clyde, their bald eagle next-door neighbors.

As usual, I’ve had to delete many of Mike’s photos to accommodate the limits of our server. The rest will be on his website  for a week, starting Sunday -- http://www.mikehamilton.biz/

Also, you can always write him to ask to receive his nightly emails directly. All of his photos are beautiful, not just the ones of Black River.

Best regards, Suzanne

Suzanne Krom, President
Herons Forever
http://www.heronsforever.org/

  

From: Mike Hamilton [mailto:mikmikeham@frontier.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 10:50 PM
To:
Subject: Black River....Let the good times roll!

I hope I don't jinx the whole thing but my sense is that the good times are rolling at Black River with our herons.  No eagles were seen today, the third week in row for me.  If there have been any attacks in the last week or so, they haven't had any impact on the herons.  They are very busy, reminiscent of the time when the colony was at its peak size.  The photo sequence begins with stick fetching activity today, which was at a furious pace.  You see them moving around to find good places to look, finding sticks, and returning them to their nests.

But it wasn't all work for the herons, at least for two of them.  And who says you can't see into the nests.  You may not want to, but for a bit longer, you still can from a few select places.

Next is actually an unusual sight at Black River - a red-winged blackbird.  We have always wondered about that.  They are around across the street at the Waterworks Garden, but not very often at Black River.  On the pond today, some birds that are being consistently seen now at Black River - wood ducks.  And a furry creature who is also being seen consistently now, one of the 3-4 beavers.  This was the only show today, and it was brief.

Now we move to the Waterworks Garden where I start with the first mallard duckling of the year.  He is one of group of five.  Next is the old man of the Waterworks, the male Anna's hummingbird, in the same area as for a number of years now. 

And finally, also from the Waterworks, the mystery flower.  Actually, there are two mysteries surrounding this flower.  One is, what is it?  The other is, why I can't remember what it is since I take the picture every year and somebody tells me what it is and I forget.  One of the nice things about getting older is that people just think you are getting forgetful rather than being an idiot.  (Tell me it's true).

That's it.  Tomorrow, to the Skagit for anything that moves (snow geese, eagles, etc.) or doesn't (tulips, Puget Sound, etc.).

Mike                                                                      

Herons Forever Update, March 16, 2010: Major news at the start of the 2010 nesting season --

Dear Herons Forever friends,

It’s really late but I wanted to get this huge news to you about our Black River herons. The most immediate is that the Bald Eagle’s nest in the big cottonwood tree at the edge of the colony is GONE!

It probably fell within the last ~24 hours, based on the eagles’ behavior. One of two reports we’ve received tonight tells us that a good-sized portion of the cottonwood tree has broken off, including the branch where the eagle’s nest was located.

Both of the adult eagles -- Bonnie and Clyde -- were in the heron colony yesterday (Monday). A couple of immature eagles joined them. The immatures may be their offspring as eagles typically are very protective of their territory, particularly during nesting season.

The eagles had laid at least one egg in the now-former nest. I heard a report from one of our most intrepid of volunteer monitors that the eagles have been working on another nearby nest since mid-winter. That nest is only a few wing beats from the heron colony, a little farther than the one that fell, but not much.

Where are our Black River herons? We are in the middle of March and for the first time in more than 25 years, we see no Great Blue Herons gathering at Black River to nest.

Bonnie and Clyde, our resident bald eagles, may be the last straw for our herons. These graceful grey-blue wading birds have moved several times in response to changes to their Renton home over the last two+ decades, including the clear cutting of the Black River forest in the 1980s, the construction of a large office development within 400 feet of their colony in the 1990s, and the clearing and grading of the hillside adjacent to Black River in the mid-2000s.

All of these changes have squeezed the herons into an increasingly constrained area within the protected Open Space area we call the Black River Riparian Forest.

Adding to these enormous pressures, Bonnie and Clyde built a nest at the edge of the colony a few years ago. (This is the same nest that fell in the past day or so.)

A tipping point may have been reached as a result. Since taking up residency, the eagles have relentlessly preyed on the heron’s eggs and chicks, so much so that it seems that no day is complete without a tasty little heron treat for them.

Up until a day or two ago, Bonnie and Clyde were at it again, incubating at least one egg in their nest next to the colony.

At this early point in the nesting season, we are wondering if the herons might be trying another location in hopes of finding a safer refuge from eagles.

If you see herons gathering within about 10 miles of Black River, please let me know. We need to know where our Black River herons might be establishing alternative colonies. Don’t assume that we know all the locations where our herons are going. We do not and need your eagle eyes and ears to help us.

Also, if you see herons returning to Black River, please email me right away.

This is going to be a very interesting season. I would really appreciate hearing from you when you visit Black River this year. Please email me at szkrom@drizzle.com.

The herons thank you, and we very much appreciate your help. We cannot do this work without you. Thank you for your support.

Suzanne

Suzanne Krom, President
Herons Forever
http://www.heronsforever.org/

 

Introduction to Herons Forever and the Black River Heron Colony

Herons Forever is a Puget Sound-based all-volunteer nonprofit organization. We are the only group dedicated solely to the protection of Renton’s Black River great blue heron colony, the largest in the tri-county region and one of the largest in Washington state. In 2006, the colony consisted of at least 121 active nests, and produced more than 300 fledglings. (fledgling: A young bird that has taken its first flight.)

Bird-lover and conservationist Suzanne Krom founded the organization in 1989 in order to protect the colony from the impacts of nearby development. She continues to lead the now-600 member organization as president. Thousands of people have helped make Herons Forever’s efforts successful by contributing their time and resources. (Click the About Us link in left margin.)

The colony is in Renton, just west of the intersection of SW 7th and Oaksdale SW, at a junction of the old Black River and Springbrook Creek. The P1 Pond was dredged in 1985, and the next spring six great blue herons built three nests overlooking the same pond they have continued to choose as their breeding location ever since. This year, 2007, marks their 22nd year at Black River. (Scroll for History of Black River.)

Our herons belong to a unique subspecies that does not exist anywhere else. The fannini heron does not migrate, which is the primary difference between these herons and all the others in the United States. Biologists are concerned about the long-term health of the fannini population as their numbers are declining at an estimated 6% per year. (Click The Great Blue Heron link in left margin to learn more.)

 

History of the Black River

The Black River Riparian Forest is named in memory of the river that used to flow through the area where the herons now nest.

The Black River ran out of the southern end of Lake Washington. It flowed south through Renton, and then veered west and merged with the Green River to form the Duwamish River.

In 1916, the lowering of Seattle's Lake Washington during the construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal drained the Black River and caused it to dry up.

For more information and photos, click here.

 

Duwamish Tribe

The Duwamish tribe had a village located along the Black River for at least 1,400 years and perhaps for thousands of years. The Duwamish were still there in 1916 when the river dried up.

In the early 1990s, anthropologist Jim Chatters conducted an excavation near the Black River Riparian Forest. Over 100 boxes of Duwamish tribal artifacts are stored with the University of Washington's Burke Museum from that dig.

The Duwamish, including Chief Sealth (178?-1866), for whom Seattle is named, were among the signers of the Point Elliott treaty. The treaty guaranteed both fishing rights and reservations, neither of which the Duwamish have today. Recently the tribe submitted a request to the Federal government for  For more information, click here and here.