Ballard Locks heron colony booms in 2023, with 160 juveniles successfully leaving the nest

The local heron colony at Commodore Park had another great nesting season: It broke last year’s impressive record with 160 juveniles fledged.

The volunteer program Heron Habitat Helpers (HHH) keeps a close eye on the colony each year. Volunteer Deborah Andrews Jacobsen said there were 83 active nests this year between Feb. 18 and Aug. 8.

Last year was also a great year for the colony, with 112 juveniles successfully leaving the nest. In prior years, the colony fledged 101, 88, 85, 77 (twice), and 59 juveniles.

Every season the colony loses some chicks—Jacobsen said the causes vary. Sometimes eagles snatch chicks from the nest, chicks fall from the nest, competing siblings push others out, or they starve. This year, volunteers with HHH estimated 39 chick deaths.

The new breeding season is coming up: “Every January we anxiously watch for heron sightings in the area. Soon we’ll scan the sky and trees for the ritual to begin again,” Jacobsen wrote in the HHH newsletter.

HHH is always accepting volunteers; if you’re interested in volunteering for the 2024 colony monitoring program, email membership@heronhelpers.org or follow the organization on social media.

Featured photo: Elston Hill