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S:\CITY COUNCIL \STAFF REPORTS \2013 Staff Reports \04 April 2013 \April 1 Work Session \Item 5, Heron Update.doc <br /> <br />WS – Item 5 <br /> <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item No. 5 <br /> <br /> <br />Date: April 1, 2013 <br /> <br />To: City Council <br /> <br />From: Marty Asleson, Environmental Coordinator <br /> <br />Re: Great Blue Herons in 2012 <br /> <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br /> <br />The Heron Task Force performed a Great Blue Heron nes t inventory late last year in <br />2012. The inventory showed a dramatic increase in the number of nests and estimated <br />heron production for the year. <br /> <br />In 2012, there were a total of 253 nests counted. In 2011 there were only 124 nests <br />counted, 47 in 2010, 63 in 2009, and 58 in 2008. The inventory also revealed that the <br />Great White Egret had also returned to Peltier Island in 2012. Pre -1998 nests exceeded <br />1000 nests. <br /> <br />In February of 2013, the Heron Task Force spent a Saturday on Peltier Island working on <br />flas hing about 22 new trees that were un -flashed from new nesting trees in 2012. The <br />Volunteers also cleared away “bridges” over the flashing caused by branches falling up <br />against nesting trees, and removing vegetation that could be used by predators climbing <br />past the flashing. <br /> <br />