Hosting one of the largest Great Blue Heron colonies in Western North America, this island of forest sits between Padilla and Fidalgo Bays.  Over 400 heron nests have been counted in this relatively small area, which provides easy access to feeding gournds for the herons. Vera and Bed Kinney donated this property to Skagit Land Trust in 1994 to protect the nesting herons.

With the cooperation of neighboring landowners, each year, Skagit Land Trust conducts a nest count in the heronry.  Unfortunately, Skagit Land Trust does not have access to all neighboring property, and therefore some heron nests are uncounted.  The overall trend, however, shows increasing number of heron nests in the colony, with more than 400 counted this year.

Heron Camera

Working in cooperation with the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center, Skagit Land Trust has established a Heron Camera that transmits live images of nesting herons to the center.  Still images are captured every 60 seconds and are available here (live images only available during the spring / summer nesting season).

For detailed information on the biology and natural history of this iconic species, click here to visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Public Access

Due to the sensitive nature of the heron nesting habitat, the March's Point Conservation Area is closed to public access.

Picture taken on 4/23/09 shows a nesting pair of herons guarding two recently laid eggs.  To see updated pictures (only available during the spring / summer nesting season) click here.