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• • • WS — Item 3 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item 3 Date: February 6, 2012 To: City Council From: Marty Asleson Re: Peltier Island Great Blue Heron Update Background The City Council requested an update on the Blue Heron Rookery at the January work session. The Great Blue Herons nesting on Peltier Island improved in 2011. In a survey completed during the nesting period, it was estimated that the number of nests had doubled from about 25 in 2010 to about 57 in 2011. It is estimated that there were up to 70 new Great Blue Herons that fledged this past year. In addition, this was the first time since 2003 that the Great White Egret nested on the Island. In actuality, a recent survey completed by volunteer Wayne LeBlanc on January 6, 2012 revealed 125 total nests. The total number of nests in 2010 was 63 and 54 in 2009. Wayne LeBlanc also discovered that there were 15 new trees to flash this year. The rookery is rebuilding. Flashing placed on nesting trees seems to be effective in preventing raccoons from predating the new chicks. The survey and flashing maintenance crew in 2011 was comprised of the City of Lino Lakes environmental staff, community volunteers, and Andy Von Duyke of the University of Minnesota Graduate Environmental Studies Program. Nesting activity during the nest survey was a pleasant surprise. For the first time in a long time, normal nesting activity and nesting chatter was experienced on the island. Last spring, several trees were re- flashed and "bridges" over flashing removed. Also, flashing was added to several new trees. Predators will bypass the flashing if there is a limb hanging on the tree or vegetation growing next to the flashed tree. Eagle Brook Church was again involved with the placement of nesting sticks in an area that was formerly a bean field and a popular place for the Herons to collect nest materials. Community volunteers that survey and maintain the Peltier Heron Rookery are invited to the council work session to provide an update of the details of the Heron colony and the National Geographic movie that was filmed last summer on the herons. The Heron Task Force volunteers are scheduling a February 2012 site visit to fix and repair old flashing and to add flashing to new trees. Requested Council Direction No action required.