This month’s guest post is contributed by Dannie Piezas, Environmental Educator with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”)
A History of Herons in Stanley Park
1921 Vancouver Archives photo by Leonard Frank
In 1921, a Province article featured a scruffy tree with branches weighed down by large nests. This is our first record of a Pacific Great Blue Heron nesting colony in Stanley Park. They may have long been nesting here before this time, which is a meaningful connection to the Park’s pre-colonial history, and today these birds continue to captivate onlookers who get to glimpse into the pre-historic… at living dinosaurs dwelling right in our city.
This colony has persisted through changes in the Park over the decades, moving from Brockton Point to an area by the Aquarium, to Beaver Lake, and to its current location near the Park Board head office on Beach Ave. Since 2001, the big birds have returned between February to March to this busy location each year, marking spring for many Vancouverites. It is known as the largest urban colony of Pacific Great Blue Herons in North America.
A History of Herons in Stanley Park
With this year’s late snows and persistent cold, the herons took a while to gather around the heronry but finally settled in among the trees on March 11th after scoping out the area from nearby rooftops—their 19th consecutive return. Quickly taking up their courtship and chest-puffing displays, the herons can now be seen pairing up in the nests which are viewable through the Park Board’s Heron Cam.
The public can choose nests to view by controlling the camera for a minute at a time, following the drama of the breeding season closely. Watch the herons’ flirtatious “bill duels” and nest-building, glimpse their blue eggs, and coo over fuzzy nestlings as they hatch!
Two eggs watched over by a parent in nest B4. Photo: Heron Cam, Vancouver Park Board
Our first colony survey after they returned this year found
106 nests and more than 80 herons in the trees, and this number will only
continue to grow through the coming months until they fledge in
August-September. Read about how the colony did last year on the Stanley Park
Ecology Society’s (SPES) 2018
heron report.
You can learn more about the Stanley Park herons and their behaviours through the Heron Cam page and the SPES website. You can also stop by the heronry on Wednesday afternoons to engage a SPES naturalist right underneath the action, or follow the Vancouver Park Board and SPES on Twitter for the latest updates (tweet your questions with #HeronTalk). If you would like to personally support the herons, please consider joining our Adopt A Heron Nest program where your proceeds go to their research and conservation.
Hungry nestlings in the 2018 season – growing well and fast! There is heavy competition between siblings, and an abundance of food is necessary for all chicks to survive and leave the nest. Photo: Greg Hart / SPES.
The Pacific Great Blue Heron is a species-at-risk due to
habitat loss and population decline. SPES gathers data on the number of birds,
nests, eggs, and chicks to determine the colony’s productivity and population
size. We also install and maintain metal bands on the trees to protect the
herons from predators like raccoons.
Even though the exact location of the nests will inevitably change, we
hope that—with your help—these wonderful herons will continue to call Stanley
Park home for another 100 years.
About SPES Saturday
As a member of the Stanley Park Ecology Society, I wanted to offer the organization an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I created the “SPES Series” years ago. This is where SPES can contribute and share stories with my audience once a month. Follow SPES on Facebook for more information.
The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts presents Portugal’s brightest star Mariza on April 17th in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. The internationally lauded fadista — a performer of Portugal’s traditional soul music, fado — will showcase brand new material from her recently released eponymous album produced by Spain’s Javier Limón, the singer’s seventh studio recording.
Mariza at the Chan Centre
When: Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 8:00pm Where: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (UBC, 6265 Crescent Rd) Tickets:Available online now from $54
Effortlessly effusing passion, joy, and nostalgia, the talented vocalist will weave her impressive vocal range and commanding stage presence into a deeply moving and memorable evening of music.
Recognized as an undisputed leader in the new fado movement, Mariza has captivated audiences worldwide, re-imagining fado’s ancient melancholic woe into a majestic, graceful, and contemporary sound for world music aficionados. In addition to six additional multi-platinum album releases over the past 17 years, Mariza has made appearances on some of the world’s most iconic stages, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Paris’ Olympia Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall, among many others.
Win Tickets
I have a pair of tickets to give away to see Mariza at the Chan Centre!
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Click below to post an entry on Twitter
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Follow The Chan Centre on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for more information about upcoming shows. I will draw one contest winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.
As the cherry blossoms are falling, the tulips are popping up! Our two local tulip festivals are open this weekend as spring’s colours start to shine around Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Here is your full event lineup for the weekend, enjoy!
As the old saying goes, for those ambitious enough, in Vancouver you can snowshoe and golf in the same day! With our long seasons, scenic locations, and options for all skill levels, Vancouver Parks Golf Courses (and Pitch & Putts) are a great way to have fun in the fresh air.
Guide to Vancouver Parks Golf Courses
In partnership with Vancouver’s Park Board, the Fraserview, Langara, and McCleerygolf courses offer classes to all ages and skill levels.
Fraserview Golf Course
Address: 7800 Vivian Drive, Vancouver
About: “Fraserview Golf Course offers an old course feeling in a West Coast setting. This well-maintained, traditional-style course offers topographical changes along majestic, tree-lined fairways, and overlooks the Fraser River.” [Website]
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by Portobello West Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Shop from 40+ local artisans ranging from unisex slow fashion, hand soldered and forged jewelry, hand painted illustrations and home decor, locally made cider and gourmet treats and more at the Portobello West Spring Market on April 27th in Yaletown!
Portobello West Spring Market
When: Saturday, April 27, 2019 10:00am to 5:00pm Where: Roundhouse in Yaletown (181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver) Tickets: $5 at the door. Free for children 12 and under. Free swag bag for the first 25 people in line. Purchase Early Bird tickets online in advance and save $3! RSVP on Facebook here for info »
I’m giving two lucky Miss604 readers the chance to win a $100 shopping spree at the Portobello West Spring Market, and more! Each winning shopper will get:
A $100 shopping spree on April 27, 2019 where the winner can shop from all of the Spring Market vendors (listed below)
A canvas swag bag: Each limited edition tote is printed by local maker, Unimpressed Screen Printing, and designed locally by Elena Markelova (contains swag from each vendor, valued at $150+)
A pair of free admission tickets to the market (value $10)
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I will draw two winners at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, April 18, 2019.
