Subject: [Tweeters] Marymore Park Heron Rookery
Date: Mar 27 09:45:53 2012
From: Bill Anderson - billandersonbic at yahoo.com


Here is a copy of an e-mail I received from a friend who?belongs to a dog owners group based out of Marymore Park.? As I?have often criticized?some dog owners?for not controling their pets or walking them in areas clearly marked "no dogs", I think it only fair to point out something positive?being done by dog owners.????
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In replying to my friend's e-mail, I mentioned that the heron populations of many of the local rookeries have dropped as the eagle populations have increased.??The?herons at Marymore may be refugees from? another rookery.?? The proximity?of people and dogs to the rookery in the park?may help?save the Marymore?rookery from becoming another buffet line for the eagles.?
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From the e-mail:
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"As you all know, we have a colony of great blue heron that have amazingly decided to build their ?heronry? at one of the busiest intersections of the Dog Park near the Main Beach. This is very exciting as they have not nested at Marymoor in at least the last 20 years. We have had discussions with Parks and a representative from the Audubon Society and have decided to be proactive and put up some appropriate closure fencing and informational signage around the blue heron nesting site. The temporary closure of the area around the ?heronry? is intended to protect you and your dogs from the potentially unsavory conditions below and around the nests. Heron ?droppings? are an issue as they fly in and out of their nests. Especially once the young are ...hatched and growing, they will be defecating out of their nests. There will probably also be fish parts chucked out of the nests, as well as the possibility (I?m sorry to say) of some dead heron
babies coming down out of the trees. The area under and around the nests will become somewhat messy and unsanitary as the breeding season progresses. We will all need to accommodate these herons ? the heronry is protected by federal law. But we don?t see this as being anything more than a small inconvenience and it will provide a wonderful spectacle of nature for all park users to ENJOY!"
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Bill Anderson; Edmonds, WA. USA