The herons are returning to their colony at Commodore Park! They began arriving at the end of December 2016, gathering near the locks for pre-nesting, which is basically standing around to attract a mate.

As of January 21, a few herons have staked claim to nests. The big action will come in the next few weeks. The herons will have all paired up and begin to restore existing nests, and build others from scratch. The sight is incredible to observe – a flurry of male herons flying to the colony with twigs in beak, and back out again for more. Both male and female herons work together to weave them into the nest.

It’s a great time to visit the colony as there are no leaves to block the view. The colony is at Commodore Park, near the Ballard Locks Fish Ladder on the Magnolia side.  The cluster of trees with over 60 nests is easy to see. View from two locations – down below the trees along the path near the water, then walk up the trail behind the trees to the open space.

You can observe the colony on your own anytime, and if you see one of our heron monitors, say hello! We’ll have events during the season with telescopes set up and our heron experts on hand. Check back for dates or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!

If you have photos, please considering sharing them on our social media or email them to: [email protected]. And if you want to get involved – we’re happy to work with your schedule, skill set, and interest! Same email address 🙂

Photos by Kathleen Atkins