I was reluctant to name that one until I get a confirmation that is indeed
the failed heronry. I do know that it is (or was): Large with dozens of
nests, has had many years of consistent heron occupation, was fairly
heavily damaged in this season's storms, did have many "active" nests in
April, and was a special show-off field trip for the Audubon Society. A
recent survey by Thais Bock and others revealed no surviving nests, nest
debris on the ground, and young/maybe adult carcass parts on the ground.
I have not visited any of these large established heronries in the south
of King County and north Pierce County. Sounds like there's nothing left
to see. Will get a confirmation of the exact name/location of the large,
failed, apparently Bald-eagle-predated heron site.
Truly one of the more dramatic examples of 'survival of the fittest!'
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu Univ of WA and Des Moines, WA
*********************PART OF REPLIED-TO MESSAGE BELOW****************
On Mon, 2 Jun 1997, Bob Mauritsen wrote:
> > I suspect there'll be a drastic decline of our NW coastal herons. Thais
> > Bock mentioned recently to me during a phone chat that a large, old south
> > King County heronry, thriving in April, has been totally decimated, not
> > one surviving nest! So, it has started, the consequences of this recent
> > change of the balance of power between two predatory bird species.
> >
>
> This wouldn't be the heronry called the Blue Heron March in Auburn, would
> it??
>
> Bob Mauritsen
> rhm at ms.washington.edu
>
>
>