Contributor: Phil Baudin and Sara Muir
Location: Lower Mainland, British Columbia
Land Use: Coastal
Habitat Type:
Project Timeline:
Highlights
Through voluntary private land stewardship, the Heron Stewardship Program assists in the conservation of the Great Blue Heron and its habitats.
Recovery of endangered and threatened wildlife, and securing ecologically important habitats in the Georgia Depression Ecoprovince (Georgia Basin) in British Columbia are priorities for federal and provincial governments. Evidence of concern for habitat protection has been demonstrated through numerous federal and provincial initiatives such as
- Managing Identified Wildlife Strategy
- Georgia Basin Initiative
- Fraser River Action Plan
- Marine Science Panel
- Pacific Coast Joint Venture.
The Great Blue Heron is Blue-listed in BC; it is considered a vulnerable indigenous species, sensitive to human activities and natural events. Thus, the Great Blue Heron requires significant conservation efforts to ensure the long-term viability of its population. Coastal herons are non-migratory and are thus considered a distinct subspecies, Ardea herodias fannin from the continental form Ardea herodius. The subspecies depends entirely on habitat in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island, and thus the relevance to regional priorities is very high. Ultimately, a conservation strategy for the heron is recognized as essential.
The Heron Stewardship Program is aimed at conserving the coastal sub-species of the Great Blue Heron and its habitats. This distinct coastal subspecies occupies the narrow shoreline land base from Puget Sound to southeast Alaska with over 80% of the subspecies occurring in the Georgia Depression Ecoprovince (Butler 1997). More specifically, colonies are usually located within 8 km of coastal and fresh water foraging habitats, although herons may sometimes fly as far as 14 km from colonies for foraging (Gebauer and Moul Status Report 2001). Breeding success has declined across the entire ecoprovince from 1971 to 1999, and this has been most pronounced on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
The increase in urban development and related land uses has led to loss and disturbance of forest lots along the narrow coastal zone most suitable for heron nesting sites. Moreover, these heron nesting sites provide important shoreline habitat for other nationally and internationally significant waterfowl, raptors, and shorebird populations. Continuation of the current trend of land-use activity and development could threaten the long-term survival of this species and many others in our region. The connection between population dynamics, habitat requirements, and land-use activity needs to be emphasized, and stewardship by landowners needs further encouragement to ensure future land-use activity and development does not threaten the long term survival of the Great Blue Heron and associated wildlife.
Project Objectives
The overall project goal is to identify and protect Great Blue Heron colonies and determine the feasibility of identifying and securing associated habitat that is critical for the survival of the Great Blue Heron in these colonies around the Strait of Georgia. The objectives to achieve this goal are to- estimate the quantity of existing habitat and the level of disturbance at existing colonies
- offer landowners information and assistance in protecting heron colonies and assess the feasibility of securing selected foraging sites through stewardship initiatives
- determine the feasibility of establishing a volunteer warden program to monitor heron colonies
- prepare a provincial status report on this species for the Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Parks.
There are a number of constraints associated with this project:
- there is a very limited budget that covers only travel and office expenses. No funding is available to assist property owners with voluntary stewardship programs or for any major activity such as purchasing key nesting or feeding habitat
- property owners are generally reluctant to enter into any legal constraint such as a conservation covenant as they are uncertain as to its impacts and benefits
- property owners have mentioned that the herons may be nesting on the property on a temporary basis and therefore any restrictive covenant or management agreement could be a waste of time and effort if the herons decide to move off the property.
If funding were available to purchase major nesting habitat, this would certainly help the goals of the program. Dealing with property owners’ concerns with conservation covenants and management agreements comes down to education and communication. Wherever possible, the Coordinator of the Heron Stewardship Program tries to provide education through public meetings, distribution of brochures, and involving volunteer wardens for various nesting sites.
The steps leading up to the start of this project were
- the Great Blue Heron has been identified as a species at risk provincially by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (both subspecies) and nationally by The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), who have ranked the subspecies fannini as Blue-listed and Vulnerable, respectively
- a research project was undertaken by Dr. Robert Butler culminating with the publication of his book The Great Blue Heron: A Natural History and Ecology of a Seashore Sentinel. The book identified the need for a stewardship program for this species
- the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund made funding for a stewardship program available
- Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia agreed to manage the Heron Stewardship Program and appointed a coordinator.
The main actions taken include
- identifying heron colonies and prioritizing those colonies in highest need of stewardship initiatives
- meeting with landowners to build awareness and promote conservation
- meeting with community groups to provide education regarding local heron sites
- continuing on an annual basis to monitor known colonies for activity/productivity
To identify and assess heron nest colonies, and do some degree of productivity analysis, the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP) had a biologist visit major nesting sites throughout the year. The biologist categorized and monitored the nesting success of the heron colonies. (Monitoring on private land occurred only upon receiving consent and interest from landowners.) Each heron colony location was entered into a Geographic Information System (GIS) database. Associated information such as colony status and degree of activity was also included.
The GIS data and colony status information was provided to MELP Planning and Assessment employees and local governments to ensure that heron colonies could be identified when planning decisions are being made. The resultant database is also available to other provincial and federal agencies as required. Throughout this process, landowner confidentiality is maintained. Success of these actions can be identified by the number of colonies receiving long-term protection under stewardship initiatives and agreements, and the number of local government agencies having received and utilized location and map information of identified colonies.
To date, a total of 53 colonies have been located around the Strait of Georgia. On Vancouver Island, there are 23 known colonies with approximately 450 active nests. In the lower Fraser Valley and Sunshine Coast there are 29 known colonies with approximately 1100 active nests (including Point Roberts).
A status report on the Great Blue Heron was completed in March 2000. The Coordinator of the Heron Stewardship Program has prepared and distributed information brochures, alongside a letter, introducing the voluntary stewardship program to interested landowners. Follow up activities have been initiated with landowners to protect important nest sites.
In total, seven colonies have been identified as priority sites; five of these seven colonies are on privately owned land. An agreement to purchase a 120 pair colony on Saltspring Island was made and a campaign by Wild Bird Trust of BC and Waterbird Watch Collective raised $250,000 toward the purchase. The Habitat Conservation Trust Fund contributed $30,000 of this purchase sum. The Waterbird Watch Collective and Wild Bird Trust have agreed to manage this important site on Saltspring Island. Negotiations for the protection of the remaining six sites are currently underway. Recently, Trillium Corporation, a Pacific Northwest real estate company based in Bellingham, WA purchased land on Point Roberts that is home to a very large colony of 400 pairs of nesting herons, for the express purpose of preserving it. Trillium advertises a history of environmental stewardship and has been involved in other land preservation strategies and land exchanges which have resulted in protection of watersheds, preservation of old growth forests and prime wildlife habitats, and increased public access to forests.
The Heron Stewardship Program has received media coverage, and gained public support through radio interviews (CBC Morningside, CBC Almanac, and CFAX Victoria); a public art exhibition and auction (opened by Robert and Birgit Bateman); and Dr. Robert Butler’s book, The Great Blue Heron, which profiles this Program as an important conservation initiative. All royalties from The Great Blue Heron were directed to the Program.
The Great Blue Heron is an important ambassador for wildlife conservation. It is easily recognized, commonly seen, and highly valued as a symbol of our natural environment. The Heron Stewardship Program, in addition to protecting critical heron habitat, will continue to promote the conservation of other wildlife habitat to landowners through voluntary stewardship options. The Heron Stewardship Program will recognize those landowners who have made a long-term commitment to protecting wildlife habitat. Ultimately, the program will continue to grow to provide protection to the most important portion of this subspecies range and, by doing so, will initiate the opportunity for cooperation for wildlife habitat protection throughout the Georgia Basin.
References
Butler, Robert. 1997. The Great Blue Heron: A Natural History and Ecology of a Seashore Sentinel. Vancouver. UBC Press.
Gebauer and Moul Status Report 2001
Acknowledgements
Many individuals and organizations have cooperated to make the Heron Stewardship Program a successful project. Their time and commitment has been instrumental in ensuring long-term progress towards achieving the objectives of the program.
A special thanks to the Wild Bird Trust of BC for their management of this project. And thanks to other important project partners including
- private land owners who have entered into agreements with the Wild Bird Trust of BC to protect the Great Blue Heron
- BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
- Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
- Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service
- Simon Fraser University.
Contacts
Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia
124 – 1489 Marine Drive
Vancouver, BC Canada
V7T 1B8
Phone: (604) 924-2581
Partners
The Heron Stewardship Program is managed by the Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia (WBT) with support from
- BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
- Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
- Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment Canada)
- Simon Fraser University
- Landowner stewards
Project Partner Contacts
Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
Rod Silver
Manager, HCTF and Sp
780 Blanshard St.
Victoria, BC Canada
V8W 2H1
Phone: (250) 356-6124
Email: Rod.Silver@gems2.gov.bc.ca
Canadian Wildlife Service
Robert Butler
5421 Robertson Road, RR1
Delta , BC Canada
V4K 3N2
Phone: (604) 940-4672
Fax: (604) 946-7022
Email: rob.butler@ec.gc.ca
Wild Bird Trust
Phil Baudin
124 – 1489 Marine Drive
Vancouver, BC Canada
V7T 1B8
Phone: (604) 924-2581
Email: pbaudin@gddc.com