About the Great Blue Herons

General Background

The colony of Great Blue Herons that nest in Kiwanis Ravine is the inspiration for the Heron Habitat Helpers' work. Year after year, the herons return to their nests in February and spend several weeks in courtship to select a mate for the season. The female typically lays three to five eggs, which both parents alternate incubating for about 28 days. Heron chicks typically fledge in two months, usually in June or July. However, young from late nests may not fledge until late summer.

The Kiwanis Ravine heron colony has grown from 35 nests in 2001 to over 80 nests in 2009. During an undisturbed season, two to four chicks typically fledge per nest. Bald eagles are having a more and more significantly destructive impact on the colony productivity. See the Seattle Times article.

The majority of herons at Kiwanis Ravine nest in maple and alder trees on the west side of the park. Some years there are also a small number of nests in other areas of the park. Herons can be very sensitive to disturbance, so no one should enter the park during the nesting season from February 1st to July 31st.

While there is no public access to the nesting areas, activity can be observed in March and early April using binoculars or a spotting scope by looking southwest from the pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks near Commodore Park (see site). By mid April this view is blocked by leaves on the trees. Herons can also be observed at the Locks near Commodore Park where some hunt for fish or in the shallows of the outlet of the Ship Canal on the south side. The best time to watch herons in the colony is in the early spring, before the trees sprout leaves. In late fall, heron nests are visible from the bridge when the trees lose their leaves.

Great Blue Herons are fascinating birds that can live up to 20 years. These majestic animals need human help to ensure their habitat in Kiwanis Ravine and other urban areas is protected and properly managed. In addition to the colony in Kiwanis Ravine, Seattle is home to heron colonies in the North Beach neighborhood, the West Marginal Way Greenbelt, near Matthews Beach, and in the Black River Riparian Forest near Renton. Herons hunt for fish at the Locks near Kiwanis Ravine and along Puget Sound and Lake Washington shorelines.

Learn more about Great Blue Herons

Visit these sites:

• Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons in conflict, a Seattle Times article.
• WildWatch pages at the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Heron Research page at Seattle Audubon Society
• The Heron Working Group

Frequently asked questions about the Great Blue Heron:

Do great blue herons mate for life? No. When the birds arrive at the colonial nesting site in February, they spend their first few weeks in courtship behavior to select a mate for the season. Great blue herons primarily eat fish, but they also eat small animals.

Where are the "corridors" the Kiwanis Ravine herons fly to feed and bring back food for chicks? No study has been done to determine where the Kiwanis herons forage during the breeding season. Adult herons have been observed flying in the direction of both salt water and fresh water during the most intense feeding periods.

How noisy is the colony? Adult herons appear to feed their chicks 24 hours a day. Neighbors say that once the eggs hatch, they hear chicks at a very noisy level day and night. You can check this out yourself by going to our Heron Watching page and making sure that your sound is turned on.