Joan wrote -

> Hi all, I know of three sites of Great Blue Heron nests in the southern
> interior of BC--one in Vernon and two in Kamloops. (In fact, the one in
> Vernon is highly visible and is virtually surrounded by urban development.
> I believe it remains thanks to a group of local naturalists who took on a
> developer intent on clearing the whole area. He had taken out all of the
> surrounding trees before they managed to stay his intentions. As a result,
> one could dine in Macdonalds parking lot and scope the herons at the same
> time. It's remarkable that it hasn't been abandoned.)

According to Chris Siddle, the Vernon "McDonald's Hernory" birds relocated
from the old colony at Otter Lake north of Vernon about 6 or so years ago.
There are a few more heronries sprinkled around the s. interior, one of
which is in the cottonwoods along the Nicola R. just s. of Nicola L.
toward Merritt. Herons are not as flighty around people as many other
of our colonial nesters, but yes, it is amazing that they still return to
the Vernon site, especially considering they abandoned a relatively peaceful
one to get there. A Great Horned Owl nested in one of the old nests in this
colony a few springs ago surrounded by other herons busily making new nests!

> In any event, I've always heard of these being termed "heronries". On
> checking Harrison's "Western Bird' Nests", colonies of heron nests are
> referred to as "heronries",. (p.10).

I vote for heronries, too. However, "murreries" seems a little stilted.

- Jack



Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
Canada
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca