Note:  Herons are EXTREMELY skittish during mating season—especially when fighting for their survival. Mortality rate is over 50 percent in their first year of life; any added stress from us could only make it worse. We cannot emphasize enough to keep your distance, move quietly, and visit the more sensitive heronries in April instead of March.

See chapter 10 in 
Washington Nature Weekends for 
where to view mating herons and 
migrating cranes 
in the Vancouver area.
 

Also see chapter 10 
UPDATES on this web site. ..

• Auburn: The Peasley Canyon Great Blue Heron Colony (located at the Park ’N Ride on Peasley Canyon Road just west of West Valley Highway) thrived for years, but was abandoned in 1999. Call Rainier Audubon Society (253-939-6411) to see if the herons have returned and check on their annual April heron viewing (volunteers with spotting scopes).

• Bellevue: Bellevue Parks Department offers ranger-led canoe trips to the Mercer Island Slough great blue heron colony starting in May (425-452-2752). Put in your own canoe at Enatai Beach or Sweyolocken Park.

• King County: King County Parks periodically schedules great blue heron programs at various King County heron colonies. For program information, access the County Tracks Program.

• Renton:  A large heronry is located in Black River Riparian Forest on Oaksdale Road, north of SW 7th Street. In the early 1990’s, a pair of bald eagles invaded the colony and ate nearly every egg. The herons recovered and thrived through the 1998 season, abandoned their heronry in 1999 due to repeated invasions, but returned in 2000. 
• Go to Suzanne Krom's Black River Heron Colony Protection site to see eagle and heron photos. 
• Contact Friends of the Black River for heron and guided tour information.