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March Point Heronry
Great Blue Herons have nested on this property since the late 1970s. In recent years it has become apparent that this nesting site plays a significant role in maintaining the heron population of the greater Puget Sound area. In 1984, 42 nests were counted at this site, with a steady increase ever since. In 2003 there were nearly 600 nests!!! Although the number of heron nests has increased dramatically, the heron population of the area has not. Skagit Land Trust Executive Director Molly Doran says, "There is a growing concern that small heronries throughout Skagit County are being abandoned because of encroaching development and the herons are congregating in fewer locations, making protection of these nesting locations all the more critical." Loss of foraging habitat elsewhere may also be drawing the birds to March’s Point. See real-time photos from the Trust's hidden camera (note: real-time photos are only available between 8:30am and 5:00pm). Images from the camera can also be viewed in real time at the Breazeale Interpretive Center at Padilla Bay during the spring and summer months. Listen to young and adults "talking" at the March's Point Heronry. Sounds recorded by Martyn Stewart, of Naturesound. Listen to more sounds at www.naturesound.org "Location, Location, Location"
March’s Point Heronry is located between three major marine bays (Fidalgo, Padilla and Similk) and the farm fields of the lower Samish and Skagit deltas, providing the herons with areas to hunt for fish, frogs and small mammals. The proximity of so much rich foraging habitat makes it ideal for finding enough food to satisfy hungry, young chicks. Amazingly, the heronry is also located amidst several industrial sites. The heronry is bounded on the south by State Route 20, on the north and west by lands owned by the Port of Anacortes (currently leased for a metal fabrication facility) and on the east by a tractor trailer storage yard. There is also an active sawmill in the neighborhood. ConcernsIn the past few years several large heron colonies have suffered sudden and significant episodes of nest abandonment. Catastrophic failures of nest colonies occur for a variety of reasons, including major changes in human activity in the vicinity. Although the herons of March's Point appear to be tolerant of a great deal of noise and human use in the area, no one knows how much more they can tolerate. In 2002, the Port of Anacortes offered a lease with an option to buy to a metal fabricator that was looking to relocate out of downtown Anacortes. Skagit Land Trust worked hard to negotiate an agreement with the manufacturer, T Bailey, that includes protective measures and monitoring for the heron colony as the plant operations get underway. A successful agreement was reached in the spring of 2003 and T Bailey may begin construction of the facility at any time. Nest Counts
On December 13, 2003, 560 nests were counted in 272 trees! Of these trees, 31 had not been used for nesting in previous years. This count was up from 494 nests in 2002 and 416 in 2001, making March’s Point the largest known heron colony in Puget Sound and likely the largest on the west coast of North America.
For information on how you can help count heron
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In 1994 Bud and Vera Kinney donated 3.5 acres of
their land on March’s Point to Skagit Land Trust. The forested property was
already home to over 100 Great Blue Heron nests and the Kinneys wanted to see
the area protected.
Skagit Land Trust conducts surveys of the
nests every year after the leaves fall from the trees and before the
herons return in the early spring. Volunteers systematically count the
nests, record information about the nest trees and mark the trees with
tags so their use can be traced year after year.