Heron Habitat Restoration
Along with 2nd Saturday Work Parties, HHH has hosted numerous events with United Way of King County, Seattle Works, and Green Seattle Partnership.
Heron Monitoring 2016
61 active nests. 112 juvenile herons fledged. Herons arrived as early as January 6, selecting old nests by February 15, incubation was first observed March 5, and the colony was active until August 6.
Urban Bird Treaty City
HHH, Seattle Audubon, Audubon WA, City of Seattle, and WDFW worked together to successfully have Seattle designated as an Urban Bird Treaty City!
Smith Cove Park
HHH advocated that wetland areas be restored so herons and other shorebirds could thrive. We also asked to preserve Smith Cove as a passive shoreline park with beach and wheelchair access for walkers, nature and bird lovers.
WebCam Plan & Signage
Initiated a plan to install a heron webcam at the Commodore Park heron colony as well as interpretive signage to highlight herons and their life cycle. Fundraising and logisitcs are underway.
Annual Native Plant Sale
In cooperation with GoNatives!
Updating Seattle Department of Planning & Development Great Blue Heron Director’s Rule 5-2007
HHH is working with the City of Seattle to revise and improve Rule 5-2007, which protects the heron colony and a buffer zone from development, tree cutting, construction noise, and other disturbances during nesting season. We proposed extending the protective land zone to include staging and feeding. WDFW and the Seattle Urban Forestry Commission supported our decisions.
Outreach & Education
- HHH hosted 3 heron viewing events with telescopes for the public.
- KING 5’s Evening Program featured the Commodore Park colony in a segment called “Magnolia’s Eccentric Neighbors.”
- Hosted a visit with scientist Katsutoshi Matsunaga from the Hokkaido Grey Heron Research Group in Sapporo, Japan.