North Columbia Great Blue Heron Inventory and Stewardship
Author: Machmer M
Specific objectives for 2016-2017 include the following: 1. Establish a campaign to encourage public reporting of heron sightings and promote awareness of heron sensitivities and habitat needs. 2. Complete an inventory of heron breeding sites in the Columbia basin and determine nesting activity and success at occupied sites. 3. Summarize the habitat characteristics and condition of occupied heron breeding sites, identify threats and limiting factors, and provide stewardship recommendations. 4. Opportunistically document occupied bald eagle nest locations during heron surveys. 5. Provide data on heron wintering activity and for key locations, identify threats and limiting factors, and provide recommendations for stewardship follow-up. 6. Conduct stewardship follow-up with landowners, land managers, government agencies, First Nations, NGOs, and the public to promote conservation and stewardship of breeding and key overwintering sites. 7. Provide a report summarizing all project activities, databases, and recommendations.
More than 530 discrete heron sightings were received in 2016-2017 from more than 250 volunteers. inventory findings for the 23 heron breeding sites confirmed in 2016-2017 indicate high rates of breeding failure (52.1% and 36.4% of active nests failed in 2016 and 2017, respectively) and a declining trend in active heron nests. The 2017 results represent the lowest number of active nests (173) ever recorded in the basin (despite the greater search area, time and effort spent), since monitoring was initiated in 2002. Furthermore, average heron breeding colony size plummeted to single digits (9.6 ± 2.3) in 2017, for the first time since monitoring began, and this decline has unknown implications for heron reproductive success, vulnerability to predation, nest site defense and detection.
The North Columbia region does appear to support isolated heron breeding activity (at Legrand, for instance), although in general, heron occurrence was relatively low, and based on sightings, activity may be diminishing in areas that were previously active.
More than 530 discrete heron sightings were received in 2016-2017 from more than 250 volunteers. inventory findings for the 23 heron breeding sites confirmed in 2016-2017 indicate high rates of breeding failure (52.1% and 36.4% of active nests failed in 2016 and 2017, respectively) and a declining trend in active heron nests. The 2017 results represent the lowest number of active nests (173) ever recorded in the basin (despite the greater search area, time and effort spent), since monitoring was initiated in 2002. Furthermore, average heron breeding colony size plummeted to single digits (9.6 ± 2.3) in 2017, for the first time since monitoring began, and this decline has unknown implications for heron reproductive success, vulnerability to predation, nest site defense and detection.
The North Columbia region does appear to support isolated heron breeding activity (at Legrand, for instance), although in general, heron occurrence was relatively low, and based on sightings, activity may be diminishing in areas that were previously active.
Resources Data:
Name: WSI_3951_RPT_2017
Format:
URL: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/siwe/details.do?id=3951
Additional Info
Study Years: 2017, 2016
Published: 2017
North Columbia Great Blue Heron Inventory and Stewardship
Author: Machmer M
Tags: Ardea Herodias, Arrow Lakes Reservoir, Breeding Sites, Columbia Basin, Great Blue Heron, Habitat Use, Kinbasket Reservoir, Species At Risk, Wildlife
Specific objectives for 2016-2017 include the following:
1. Establish a campaign to encourage public reporting of heron sightings and promote awareness of heron sensitivities and habitat needs.
2. Complete an inventory of heron breeding sites in the Columbia basin and determine nesting activity and success at occupied sites.
3. Summarize the habitat characteristics and condition of occupied heron breeding sites, identify threats and limiting factors, and provide stewardship recommendations.
4. Opportunistically document occupied bald eagle nest locations during heron surveys.
5. Provide data on heron wintering activity and for key locations, identify threats and limiting factors, and provide recommendations for stewardship follow-up.
6. Conduct stewardship follow-up with landowners, land managers, government agencies, First Nations, NGOs, and the public to promote conservation and stewardship of breeding and key overwintering sites.
7. Provide a report summarizing all project activities, databases, and recommendations.
Summary
More than 530 discrete heron sightings were received in 2016-2017 from more than 250 volunteers. inventory findings for the 23 heron breeding sites confirmed in 2016-2017 indicate high rates of breeding failure (52.1% and 36.4% of active nests failed in 2016 and 2017, respectively) and a declining trend in active heron nests. The 2017 results represent the lowest number of active nests (173) ever recorded in the basin (despite the greater search area, time and effort spent), since monitoring was initiated in 2002. Furthermore, average heron breeding colony size plummeted to single digits (9.6 ± 2.3) in 2017, for the first time since monitoring began, and this decline has unknown implications for heron reproductive success, vulnerability to predation, nest site defense and detection.
The North Columbia region does appear to support isolated heron breeding activity (at Legrand, for instance), although in general, heron occurrence was relatively low, and based on sightings, activity may be diminishing in areas that were previously active.