Hi Bill,

This is a wonderful idea. I can see the potential
here for better communication and cooperation
between birders and dog owners at the park. I've
been doing some photo and video documentation of
the rookery and would be more than happy to
contribute to the education effort. I have
contacted you off-list with some ideas.

Best wishes,

Marc Hoffman
Kirkland, WA
www.SongbirdPhoto.com
tweeters "at" dartfrogmedia "dot" com

At 09:45 AM 3/27/2012, Bill Anderson wrote:
>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.
>
>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.
>
> From the e-mail:
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>"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 laaw. 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!"
>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>Bill Anderson; Edmonds, WA. USA
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