2 minute read
The Herons (Smuqw’a) are Back
By Kerrie Talbot & Madeline Southern Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre Cowichanestuary.ca
Look to the sky and you’ll note the return of our majestic, prehistoric looking birds we know as Pacific Great Blue Heron, indicating Spring is truly on it’s way. Although these herons are non-migratory, when they gather for nesting season (March - July) it is a sight to behold.
With their arrival, Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre will be activating our heron camera which is carefully nestled high on a pole at the edge of the rookery - the largest rookery on Vancouver Island! You’ll want to look sooner than later, as once the big leaf maple trees leaf out, visibility is a little trickier.
“Our” herons primarily use maple, alder & conifer trees for nesting, resting, and nest building/ repairs. One tree has 16+ nests occupying it’s limbs. Watching the acquisition of one stick from their “building supply store”, then the delicate art of negotiating their 5’ wingspan, stick in beak, through the forest is an absolute wonder. Did you know that herons have an amazing array of vocalizations? From the beak clacking, barking and cooing of meet and greet mating season to the squawking, grawking, shrieking and screaming at hungry predators, they’ve got a sound for all reasons. Velociraptors unite! And baby herons do look a little dinosaur-like, particularly when they first hatch.
Curious about the continuous low key “grawwk, grawwk” sound coming from the rookery? It’s their inner heat regulation system. By vibrating their throats herons regulate their body temperature.
Aside from being an essential part of the Cowichan Estuary ecosystem, this particular sub-species of Great Blue Heron, Pacifica, is also a blue listed species - considered vulnerable to disturbance by humans and bald eagles. Protecting habitat for nesting and foraging sites is
(Chinook salmon)
Have you met the Big Dancing Fish? Follow her to learn from watershed friends!
Photo Credit: Barry Hetschko
The Herons (Smuqw’a) are Back!
critical. Their habitat ranges from salt and freshwater marshes, streams and lakes, to backyard ponds and open fields where frogs and other small amphibians are available.
Tune in to our web cam @ cowichanestuary.ca to watch nesting activity, or come to Hecate Park for a picnic to observe them “real time”.... low tide is especially good timing to observe them forage in the mud flats.
Grrawwwkkk!
