HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/30/2002 Env Bd PacketCity of Lino Lakes
Environmental Board Meeting
January 30, 2002
6:30 p.m.
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
4. OPEN MIKE
5. ACTION ITEMS
A. Election of Officers
6. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Wildland Urban Interface /Completed Project Report/Peggy Booth,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
B. Peltier Lake /Proposed Boating Restrictions/Heron Nesting Area
C. Development Regulations Task Force
7. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
A. Forestry
B. Solid Waste Recycling/Solid Waste Report July 1, 2001 to December 31,
2001
8. ADJOURN
Agenda Item 6A
Environmental Board Meeting Date: January 30, 2002
Topic: Ordinance Proposal /Peltier Lake Use Regulation
Background: The Peltier Lake Island is classified as the second largest
nesting site for the Great Blue Heron. The island is also a nesting area for the
Great White Egret. Records of these birds nesting habits in Lino Lakes have
been maintained since 1945. Before 1979 there were two other sites in Lino
Lakes that the birds used for nesting. One was on the East Side of Rice Lake
and the other was in the Lamprey Pass area. From 1979 to 1991, the birds from
these two sites appeared to have migrated to the Peltier Lake nesting site. The
theory is that the birds moved away from development in the areas. The first
record of colonies on Peltier was recorded in 1989. The records indicate the
decline in population of the Rice Lake and Lamprey sites, and in increase in the
population of the Peltier site. In 1999, there were 625 recorded nests on Peltier
Island. At that time, the Peltier colony became the second biggest colony in the
state. The Pigs Eye colony was the largest. There are only five or six nesting
colonies in the Metropolitan Area. In 1996 there were 1100 recorded nests on
the island. In 1998, a storm reduced the number of nests to 500. The birds were
nesting at the end of May 2000. After June 14, the birds were gone.
A number of issues may have caused the disappearance of the Blue Herons.
Last year was a budget wildfire year. The DNR was practicing aerial water pick-
ups on Peltier during the nesting time. Highway construction began on Interstate
Highway 35W. The Highway project occurred within % mile from the nesting
birds. Aerial photographs show about 60 nesting Egrets on April 16, 2000. The
birds left sometime after this. The Blue Heron numbers also went down. In
1998, a permit was issued for private water ski slalom coarse. It is not known if
the permit for this coarse was issued in 1997, or weather skiing was occurring at
that time. The coarse was set up on the North side of the island. The birds nest
on the North side of the island.
Research indicates the need for at least a 300 -meter nesting and buffer zone for
the Great Blue Heron, and that the birds tend to abandon nests with larger
disturbances within 500 meters Butler. 1992.
A task force of stakeholders met on January 23, 2002 to discuss action that
might be taken to protect the Great Blue Heron Rookery on Peltier Island. One
of the suggestions is to immediately communicate with the DNR fire fighters, and
the Minnesota Department of Transportation concerning Heron sensitivity issues.
Discussions with the skiing group will also occur. It is thought that if a
"handshake agreement" can be reached with the skiers to not use the area
during critical times, then observations can be made
of cause and effect. The other issue that was
discussed was lake -use regulation.
Regulating the use of Lakes in Minnesota is
delegated to local govemments. Regulation is
achieved through local ordinance establishment.
There are two local govemments involved in the issue
of regulating use on Peltier Lake. They are the Cities
of Lino Lakes and Centerville. The two cities would need to pass joint powers
agreement and ordinance. The proposed ordinance would include a no -wake
zone in the area to the North of the Southem section lines of Sections 10 and 11.
This would be a line east and west starting at the southem boundary of Rehbeins
Peltier View Subdivision of Lino Lakes.
Biologists at the task force meeting have indicated that we have one, maybe two
more chances to save the Heron Rookery.
Analysis:
Without some action taken very soon, the City of Lino Lakes is in danger of
loosing a unique natural resource feature. The Herons start nesting in April, any
regulation before this time would ensure the buffer /use needed to encourage the
retum of the Colony.
Another side point of high -power boat prop use in the area North of the island is
that of water quality impact. Normal water depth in this area is registered as 4.5
feet. During low -lake elevation periods, this can be less than 3 feet. Aerial
photography shows channeling and tum- around curl in the ski coarse.
Sediments are very phosphorous rich in our lakes. The effect of the prop
churning of these sediments is that of pumping phosphorous into the water
column. Phosphorous is the limiting factor to plant growth in our lakes. Although
unverified by phosphorus sampling data, observations made indicated an
unusual increase in algae blooms in the lake after skiing events.
Options:
Proceed with a joint - powers ordinance regulating use of Peltier Lake in the island
area.
Recommendation:
Proceed and process this regulation language as soon as possible.
Attachments:
1. Butler Technical Report
2. DNR Water Surface Use Summary
3. Lablanc Report
Ardea herodias
FRENCH:
Grand Hiron
SPANISH:
Garza morena,
Garza Manta granda,
Gatlinaza
Great
Blue
Heron
The Great Blue Heron is one of the most
widespread and adaptable wading birds
in North America. Up to seven subspecies
have been recognized by past researchers, based
on differences in size and plumage color, but a
single subspecies (herodias) probably suffices for
most of the continent, except for Florida's Great
White Heron (occidentalis), the subspecies most
distinctive in color (entirely white). Occidentalis
interbreeds freely with herodias to produce an
intermediate form, Wiirdemann's Heron of the
Florida Keys. This account focuses on both of
these subspecies: the continental Great Blue
Herons (A. h. herodias), sometimes referred to
as the herodias (or blue) group, and the Great
White Heron, the occidentalis (or white)
group. Both have received considerable
attention from researchers.
This species nests mostly in colonies, usually
large ones of several
hundred pairs. Such colonies
are often located on islands
or in wooded swamps,
isolated locations that
discourage predation by
snakes and mammals.
Although this species is
primarily a fish eater,
wading (often belly deep)
along the shoreline of oceans,
marshes, lakes, and rivers, it also stalks upland
fields for rodents, especially in winter. Its well-
studied, elaborate courtship displays have
correlates on the foraging grounds, where this
species can be strongly territorial.
ROBERT W. BUTLER
The
Birds of
North
America
Life Histories for
the 21st Century
Figure 1.
Breeding, nonbreeding, and year -round
ranges of A. herodias. The species is rare in
winter in the northern parts of its range.
Order CICONIIFORMES Family AREIDAE
GREAT BLUE HERON
Equally at home in coastal (marine) environments
and in fresh water habitats, the Great Blue Heron
has weathered the impacts of 20th century North
Americans quite successfully, although its
breeding colonies remain vulnerable to dis-
turbance.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Largest heron in North America, about 60 cm tall,
97 to 137 cm long, 2.1 to 2.5 kg mass. Middle toe
with small comb (pectinate). Wings long and
rounded, bill long and tapered, tail short. In flight,
folds neck in S -shape and extends legs along the
body axis; deep, slow wingbeats.
Herodias (blue) group: legs and neck long. Long
body and occipital plumes on adults. Upperparts
gray, fore -neck streaked with white, black, and
rust- brown. Bill yellowish. Legs brownish or
greenish. Occidentalis (white) group resembles
herodias except wholly white (some individuals
have a few dark feathers). The Great Blue Heron
resembles the Grey Heron of Europe and Africa,
found occasionally in the West Indies (American
Ornithologists' Union 1983), except that Great
Blues have gray feathers with violaceous tinge on
back and sides of neck, chestnut feathers on thighs.
Adult Grey Heron slightly smaller (90-98 cm long),
with pale &ray neck and white feathers on thighs
(Hancock and Kushlan 1984).
DISTRIBUTION
3U CHECK -LIST REGION
Breeding range. Widespread (Fig. 1). The Great
ue Heron (Herodias group) nests as single pairs
d small colonies along coasts of se. Alaska (61°N;
. Sigman pers. comm.) and n. British Columbia
WB). Mostly in colonies on south coast Butler
1989) and mountain valleys of British Columbia,
in central Canadian Prairies (Vermeer 1969,1970,
1973, Vermeer and Anweiler 1970), s. Ontario
(Gray et al. 1980, Dunn et al. 1985), s. Quebec
(DesGranges et al. 1979), and the Canadian
Maritime provinces (McAloney 1973, Quinney
1982) except Newfoundland (Montevecchi and
Tuck 1987), south to Florida, Texas, Baja California,
and Central America at least to Belize and
Guatemala. Mostly in colonies and along the Pacific
and Caribbean coast of Mexico to Guerrero (AOU
1983). Breeding status unknown in central Mexico.
Occidentalis group (Great White Heron)
restricted to coastal habitats of s. Florida (including
the Keys), Cuba, the Isle of Pines, St. Thomas, and
The Birds of North America, No. 25, 1992
Anegada (Hancock and Kushlan 1984). Formerly
in Jamaica (Spendelow and Patton 1988).
Winter range. Pacific coast south of 61 °N
(Williamson et a1.1965) through Central America,
and mostly south of Canada and midwest U.S.
states (Fig. 1). Includes the islands and coast of the
Caribbean south to Colombia (Hancock and
Kushlan 1984).
RANGE OUTSIDE AOU CHECK -LIST REGION
Great Blue Heron breeds on the Galapagos
Islands (Harris 1973), Great White Heron on islands
near Venezuela (Hancock and Kushlan 1984).
Former casual in winter in Venezuela and
Colombia (Byrd 1978, Hancock and Kushlan 1984);
stragglers recorded on Hawaiian Islands (Berger
1972).
FOSSIL HISTORY
Large herons referable to the living genus Ardea
have been in existence since the middle Miocene
and probably before, although the phylogenetic
relationships of fossil species to living species is
still not clear.
Earliest record for Ardea is an undescribed
species from the early Barstovian North American
Land Mammal Age (NALMA: 14 million yr before
present) from Observation Quarry, Dawes Co.,
NB, about the size of the Great Egret (Casmerodias
albus; Becker 1986). Next record for Ardea sp. from
the late Clarendonian NALMA (10 mybp) from
Love Bone Bed, Alachua Co., FL, the size of A. h.
occidentalis (Becker 1985b). Ardea polkensis Brodkorb
(1955:17), the only correctly named fossil species
within the geographic range of the living species
(Olson 1985: 165-168), from the late Hemphillian
NALMA (5 mybp; Bone Valley, Polk Co., FL); was
smaller thanA. herod ias. A late Blancan NALMA (2
mybp) Ardea sp. record, recently made by Emslie
(1992) from the Macasphalt Shell Pit, Sarasota Co.,
FL, was slightly smaller than female herodias and
equal in size to the White- necked Heron, A. cocoi.
Fossils of A. herodias recorded from many
Pleistocene (1.8 mybp) and prehistoric sites within
the U.S. (see Becker 1982: 449,1984: 203, 1985a: 38,
also Brodkorb 1963: 284, Guthrie 1992: 321,
Parmelee 1977: 200, 1985: 176, Howard 1969),
Mexico (Hamblin and Rea 1985), and St. Croix in
the West Indies (Wetmore 1937).
SYSTEMATICS
The Great Blue Heron has two close relatives, the
South American Cocoi Heron (A. cocoi) and the
Old World Grey Heron. These three taxa are highly
similar morphologically (Bock 1956), behaviorally
The American Ornithologists' Union
(Curry- Lindahl 1971), and genetically (Sheldon
1987), suggesting that they constitute a single
species. Because they do not overlap in distribution,
however, these taxa are usually considered to be
semispecies constituting a superspecies (e.g.,
Hancock and Elliot 1978, Payne 1979). Such a
classification permits each of the semispecies to be
divided into subspecies.
Hancock and Elliot (1978) divided Great Blue
Heron into seven subspecies, wardii (se. North
America),cognata (GalapagosIs.), treganzai (middle
North America), hyperonca (w. U.S.), sanctilucae (s.
California), and occidentalis (Florida and West
Indies). They also suggested that two more
subspecies might usefully be described for Central
American and Carribean forms. In general, most
researchers view occidentalis (Great White Heron)
as a localized color morph, but Curry- Lindahl
(1971) believed it differed from typical Great Blue
Herons in its behavior, possibly enough to be a
distinct species. Payne (1979) recognized four
subspecies, fannini, herodias, cognata, and
occidentalis. He noted that while southern birds are
larger than northern birds, the eastern variation in
size is clinal. Thus, a single subspecies (herodias)
suffices for most of continental North America,
with the exception of the northwest (fannini) and
Florida ( occidentalis). This account treats occidentalis
as a color morph /subspecies of A. herodias.
MIGRATION
NATURE OF MIGRATION IN THE SPECIES
Migrates alone or in groups of 3 to 12,
occasionally up to 100, day and night (Palmer
1962). Some wander northward in summer to
arctic Alaska, s. Yukon, s. Keewatin, n. Manitoba,
n. Ontario and n. Quebec (Brock 1959, Godfrey
1986). Southward migration from northern
localities from mid -Sep to late Oct. General
movement away from northern edge of breeding
range for winter (Henny 1972), but some recorded
on Christmas Bird Counts in Canada each year.
Spring migrants return in early Feb to Illinois,
Wisconsin, and central Minnesota (Palmer 1962);
mid -Mar to Vermont (Laughlin and Kibbe 1985)
and British Columbia Butler et al. 1986); late Mar
to Kentucky (Mengel 1965), Iowa (Dinsmore et al.
1984), and Oklahoma (Sutton 1967); early Apr to
Nova Scotia (Tufts 1 %1), Ontario (Devitt 1967),
and Alberta (Vermeer 1969). Also arrive Nova
Scotia by Mar, Canadian Prairies and Maritimes in
Apr and early May (Palmer 1962). More infor-
mation on arrival and departure dates needed to
establish migration chronology.
ROBERT W. BUTLER
TIMING AND ROUTES OF MIGRATION
Little information available. Most probably
winter along ice -free coastlines and watercourses.
Recoveries of U.S. and Canadian herons banded
as nestlings east of the Rockies and recovered
before their first birthday suggest many winter
along Caribbean shores (Byrd 1978). Christmas
Bird Counts (CBC) show large numbers in se. U.S.
(see Fig. 5). Pacific coast populations appear
nonmigratory (Byrd 1978, Gill and Mewaldt 1979)
but some post- breeding dispersal occurs (Pratt
1970, Butler 1991). Large concentrations in Puget
Sound, WA, and Strait of Georgia, BC.
MIGRATORY BEHAVIOR
No information.
CONTROL AND PHYSIOLOGY OF MIGRATION
No information:
HABITAT
BREEDING RANGE
Widespread and remarkably adaptable. Feeds
mostly in slow moving or calm freshwater, also
along seacoasts. Occasionally in surf and fields.
Nests in trees, bushes, on ground and artificial
structures (see Breeding: nest site), usually near
water; prefers vegetation on islands or in swamps,
probably to avoid ground predators. Breeding at
elevations up to 1,100 m in British Columbia
(Campbell et al. 1990), 610 min Vermont (Laughlin
and Kibbe 1985), and 1,500 min Panama (Hancock
and Kushlan 1984). Along east coast of U.S., avoids
nesting in marine habitats in New Hampshire and
New York (Spendelow and Patton 1988), favoring
inland sites; farther north and south, nests near
fresh and salt water. Great White Heron found
almost exclusively in shallow -water marine
habitats, particularly tidal grass flats.
SPRING AND FALL MIGRATION
No information but probably similar to breeding
season.
WINTER RANGE
Little information. In Oklahoma, avoids farm
ponds with little emergent vegetation in favor of
natural wetlands and riverbanks (Heitmeyer 1986).
In British Columbia, flies to estuaries (adult
females) and nearby grasslands (juveniles) in
autumn and winter when high tides and declining
fish populations make foraging unprofitable on
beaches; some adult males spend fall and winter
on territories along river banks (Butler 1991). Also
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
GREAT BLUE HERON
forage occasionally in dry fields. Along east coast
of U.S., favors coastal marine habitats, especially
salt marshes.
FOOD HABITS
FEEDING
Main foods taken. Mostly fish but also
amphibians, invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, and
birds (Palmer 1962, Kushlan 1978, Verbeek and
Butler 1989).
Microhabitat for foraging. Different foraging
habitats best explained by individual ability. In
British Columbia, juveniles forage in grasslands,
adult females in estuarine marshes and intertidal
beaches, adult males along riverbanks (Butler
1991). Microhabitats of yearlings poorly kn onn;
include estuaries and beaches, p l
visits to colony -sites (RWB).
Food capture and consumption. Forage singly
and with conspecifics; behavior flexible, diet
varied. Hunt most often by slowly wading or
standing in wait of prey in shallow water ( Kushlan
1976, 1978, Willard 1977, Hom 1983); also hunt
from floating objects (Godin 1977) and even -while
floating;:SJensen 1932). Wade more slowly and
stop for longer periods than other herons (Willard
1977). Often forage in flocks with other Great Blue
Herons (Krebs 1974), other ciconiiformes (Willard
1977, Kushlan 1978), and Double- crested Cormor-
ants (Phalacrocorax auritus; RWB). Forage -night
and day on beaches (Black and Collopy 1983) and
wharves (RWB); up to' one :third-- of total
photoreceptors in ciconiiform eyes :.are: rods,
presumably an adaptation fornight vision (Lish
1982). Prey located by sight (Krebs and Partridge
1973) and caught by rapid forward thrust of neck
and head; then held between Mandibles. Most
prey swallowed whole. Small mammals sometimes
wetted before swallowing (Peifer 1979, but see
Bayer 1981a). Armoured fish taken ashore, then
speared and shaken with beak to break or relax the
spines (Forbes 1982, but see Bayer 1985a).
DIET
Major food items. Wide array of animals
induding fish, insects, mammals, amphibians, and
crustaceans (Willard 1977, Kushlan 1978, Peifer
1979). Voles 24% to 40% of diet of nestlings in
Idaho (Collazo 1979); also important to juvenile
survival in British Columbia in winter (Butler
1991).
Quantitative analysis. Data scant, mostly from
breeding season. Predominantly fish (Parker 1980,
Quinney and Smith 1979, Parker 1980, Horn 1983,
The Birds of North America, No. 25, 1992
Butler 1991). Occasionally chokes to deathonlarge
prey items (Wolf and Jones 1989).
NUTRITION AND ENERGETICS
Estimated mean (± SE) intake of metabolized
energy per day by individual herons feeding on
small fish during 4 breeding stages was:' egg-
laying 1,163 kJ (± 555), incubation 1,197 kJ (± 194),
small chicks 4,264 kJ (± 764) and large chicks 1,598
kJ (±`151; Butler 1991).
DRINKING, PELLET CASTING, AND DEFECATION
Water probably from diet. Casts pellets of
mammal hair. Bones digested. Territorial herons
depart from foraging sites to defecate more often
than nonterritorial herons (Bayer 1980).
FOOD SELECTION AND STORAGE
Few data; fish about 5 to 30 art long, occasionally
longer (Willard 1977).
SOUNDS
VOCALIZATIONS
Mostly silent except at breeding colonies and
when disturbed on foraging grounds. Geographic
variation unknown. Calls show much variability
and intergrade (Bayer 1984a).
Vocal array. Bayer (1984a) lists 7 calls at
breeding colonies: Frawnk call: rapid squawk,
kt
average duration of 19.7 s, given day
when alarmed or when aggressive toward
conspecifics; it may account for the local name
"Crank" given to this species along the New
England coast. Go -go-go call: a series of ducks
given at the foraging site and breeding colony and
often answered with same. The awk call: a scream
lasting an average of 2.3 s, given mostly inbreeding
colonies. The goon call resembles the bleat of a calf;
uttered at the end of the "full forward" display
(see Fig. 2a). Theee call: divided into two segments,
uttered day and night mostly while flying. The
roh- roh -roh call: a series of squawks uttered
spontaneously for about 3.6 s by herons on the
feeding grounds; also arrival at nests is often
preceded by this call. Perhaps advertises territorial
ownership on the foraging ground (Bayer 1984a)
and mate recognition at nest (Mock 1976).
NONVOCAL SOUNDS
Loud bill snap, part of sexual display (see
Behavior: sexual). Males snap bills most often
when unmated and defending a nest site; also
during bachelor stage when displaying toward
females (Mock 1979); also once pairs form, but less
The American Ornithologists' Union
often than at other stages. Females snap bills when
approaching bachelor males and after they have
formed breeding pairs (Mock 1979). Possibly
analogous to territorial song of passerines (Mock
1976).
Bill clappering (Hancock and Kushlan 1984), a
rapid chattering of the tips of the bill, is very
common between paired birds; many other heron
species also do it (Hancock and Kushlan 1984).
BEHAVIOR
LOCOMOTION
Walking. Walks erect with long strides and
wades in water, often up to belly or nearly so. Toes
are spread as the foot is placed on the ground.
Flight. Folds neck in S -shape and extends legs
along the body axis on long flights. Extends neck
and dangles legs when preparing to land, when
chasing other herons, when startled (e.g., when
pursued by Bald Eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus),
and at colony -sites during courtship flights. Flies
with deep, slow wingbeats at 2.3 to 3.2 beats /s;
flight speed 30 to 46 km /h (Palmer 1962). Soars to
great heights and glides occasionally. Capable of
evasive maneuvers when pursued.
SELF - MAINTENANCE
Preening, head- scratching, stretching, etc.
Powder downs on flanks and pectinated middle
toe nail used for scratching are common to herons,
including this species. Stands on one foot to scratch
head by lifting leg over closed wing, erecting crest
feathers, and lowering and twisting head in
position where it can be reached by pectinate toe.
Preens by sliding bill along feathers. Droops wing
slightly when preening neck. Partly opens wing
when preening underwing feathers. Shakes head,
body, and finally tail in one motion. Cleans bill by
wiping on branches or shaking.
Sunbathing, thermoregulation, temperature
metabolism. Droops and exposes inside of wings
on sunny days, perhaps to radiate body heat on
warm days and absorb solar radiation on cool
days (Kahl 1971, Larkins 1989). 'Avoids strong
winds by seeking shelter behind bushes, fences,
etc. Leaves nest to drink on hot days (Pratt 1977).
Sleeping and roosting. Roosts alone or in loose
flocks of over 100 on the ground, in trees, and on
man -made objects near feeding grounds during
day. Some roosts used repeatedly. Sleeps at night
in trees with dense foliage. Tucks bill under wing -
coverts while asleep.
Daily time budget. On Pacific Coast, activity
controlled mostly by tides. Peak feeding activity
near low tide (Brandman 1976, Bayer and
ROBERT W. BUTLER
McMahon 1981); pair formation, courtship, and
nest building generally just before or after foraging
(Brandman 1976). During pair formation male
spends 100% of his nonforaging time at the nest
(perhaps to guard against robbing of nest sticks),
50% to 60% during courtship, 100% during incu-
bation, and 51 % at nest when chicks are > 4 to 5 wk
old (Brandman 1976). Female spends 50 to 60% of
her nonforaging time at nest during courtship,
100% brooding chicks < 4 to 5 wk old, and 31%
with older chicks (Brandman 1976). Adult nest
attentiveness declines from about 83% to 99% in
the first week after hatching to near zero at 6 to
7 wk (Dowd and Flake 1985a). Feeding- activity
peaks when chicks are 4-wk old; Males spend less
time foraging and more time on the nest than
females during the day (Brandman 1976); opposite
at night.
AGONISTIC BEHAVIOR
Physical interactions. Individuals erect crest
and fly toward conspecifics that approach within
about 2 m of nests and nest sites; also jab such
intruders with bill during courtship (see Fig. 2c).
Thrust bill at herons that approach nest after eggs
are laid.
Communicative interactions. The rich repertory
of courtship displays at the nest are described
below (see Behavior: sexual); displays in this
section described by Bayer (1984b). The most
spectacular display given by herons on the foraging
grounds is the "Upright and Spread Wing" display
given when two herons approach one another;
neck is nearly fully extended and tilted slightly
over the back, head and bill are held above
horizontal, wrists are drooped or held away from
the body exposing the black shoulder patch of the
adult. Sometimes wing nearest the opponent is
drooped lower than the opposite wing and body
plumes are erected. As opponents approach one
another, head and bill are raised closer to the
vertical and the neck extended farther over the
back. These displays usually cause the two herons
to move apart but occasionally bring a chase. This
display is sometimes directed towards gulls (Larus
sp.), Great Egrets (Casmerodius albus), and even
people.
A less spectacular display on the foraging
grounds is the "Vertical" display (Bayer 1984b). A
heron performing this display sleeks its plumage,
extends the neck forward at about a 45 °, and tilts
the head along its axis so its eyes alternately direct
upwards. This behavior used when predators and
herons fly at high altitudes over the foraging
grounds. The "Forward and Full Forward" display
entails partly folding the neck with the bill facing
the opponent and partly erecting the body plumes.
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
GREAT BLUE HERON
A
From this position, an aggressor can thrust the bill
at an opponent, although such attacks are not
frequent. The Full Forward behavior, however,
can result in serious injury and even the death of
an opponent (Forbes and McMackin 1984). "Bill
duels," in which opponents alternately attempt to
C
The Birds of North America, No. 25, 1992
B
Figure 2.
Breeding displays
of the Great Blue
Heron. (A) Forward
display; (B) Stretch;
(C) Bill duel. By D.
Otte, from Mock
(1976).
A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Editors
grab each other's head (Fig. 2c), occur during
some Full Forward displays. "Circle Flights"
involve a heron taking flight with the neck
extended and parallel to or below the axis of the
body; used by territorial herons along boundaries
and by nonterritorial herons pursuing one another.
In the "Arched Neck" display the neck is fully
extended above or parallel to the body axis with a
down -curve in the distal portion; used by territorial
herons after preening, stretching, or long periods
of inactivity, during short flights within a territory,
while walking and wading, and while flying to a
roost or colony site. Also used by herons in pursuit
flight, when flying from an approaching heron or
predator, or when supplanted by another
individual. Displays on the foraging grounds may
be analogous to displays at the nest (R. Bayer pers.
comm.). Communicative interactions between
chicks and their parents need study.
SPACING
Individual distance. Nonterritorial herons from
neighboring colonies overlap foraging grounds
(R. Bayer pers. comm.). Individual distance on
foraging grounds and at nests maintained by
displays and aggressive interactions (Bayer 1984b,
Mock 1976).
Territoriality. Adults defend territories along
rivers, creeks, mudflats, and lografts day and night
(Bayer 1978, Butler 1991). Territories maintained
by displays, threats, and chases (Bayer 1984b).
Territorial herons rest in exposed sites from where
they display and launch chases of approaching
herons (RWB). Mean length of shoreline of 32
territories in Yaquina estuary, OR 355 m (SD =
168); mean area: 8.4 ha (SD = 5.4); in freshwater
marshes (n = 7 territories): 129 m (SD = 28); mean
area: 0.6 ha (SD = 0.1; Bayer 1978).
The American Ornithologists' Union
Number of territories declines through winter;
14% to 20% of territories in Yaquina estuary are
defended by juveniles in Oct, but none in winter
(Bayer 1978). On the Fraser River Delta, BC, adult
females and juveniles feed nonterritorially on
beaches, estuarine marshes, and in fields in winter,
while adult males defend year -round feeding
territories (Butler 1991).
SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
Mating system and sex ratio. Mostly mono-
gamous. Birds: choose new mates each year
(Simpson 1984).
Pair bond. Elaborate courtship displays;
described in detail by Meyerriecks (1960) and
Mock (1976,1979,1980). Much variation between
individuals and in sequence of displays. Mock
(1976) describes pair formation displays as follows.
Stretch display (Fig. 2b): unpaired males extend
neck, raise bill toward vertical, and erect neck
plumes while exhibiting bright soft parts; neck
then retracted, accompanied by a moaning goo-goo
call (see Sounds: vocalizations). Snap display:
erected head, neck, and breast plumes as head is
lowered; mandibles are clapped together and legs
flexed when the neck is nearly straight. Wing
Preen display: bird leans forward, opens wing
slightly, runs bill along edge of primaries. Cirde
Flights: heron flies laboriously in wide circle above
colony with its neck outstretched. Landing call:
when heron returns to nest, neck and head plumes
erect; utters a series of croaks (see Sounds:
vocalizations). Twig Shake: heron grasps a twig
on the nest tree and shakes it side -to -side. Crest
Raising: erects black occipital plumes. Fluffed Neck
display: heron raises head, erects neck feathers,
holds bill at or slightly above horizontal. Upright
display: neck and bill extended in a straight line
about 45° above the horizontal. Arched Neck
display: rapid erection of plumes while curving
neck so bill points downwards. Forward display
(Fig. 2a) heron extends wrists fromits sides, retracts
neck on to back, erects all plumes, then stabs
forward with the bill, squawks and claps bill. Bill
Duels (Fig. 2c): paired male erects plumage, stands
tall, and lunges at the face of its mate with wings
held away from its body and a dosed bill. Bill
Clappering: rapid clicking of bill tips in mid air,
directed toward mate.
These displays not rigidly organized into
predictable sequences (Mock 1976). Three
sequences seen most often by Mock (1976) were
the Greeting Ceremony, Stick Transfer, and Nest
Relief Ceremony. The Greeting Ceremony occurs
when a heron joining its mate on the nest gives the
Landing Call. The bird on the nest usually responds
with a Full Stretch or, less often, an Arched Neck
ROBERT W. BUTLER
or Fluffed Neck display. The Stick Transfer
sequence occurs when the male brings sticks to its
mate. She performs the stretch display and takes
the sticks. The male then Bill Clappers the female
as she places the stick in the nest. During the Nest
Relief sequence an arriving heron utters the
Landing Call and its mate stands followed by a
Full Stretch. Often the pair Bill Clapper, preen,
and even sleep before departure takes place.
COPULATION
Mostly morning and evening because females
ate away from nests midday. Few or no displays
(Mock 1976); occurs mostly on nest. Male places
one foot gently in centre of female's back: Female
leans forward, bends ankles slightly, holds wings
slightly away from sides. Male grasps female's
humeri with toes and lowers himself onto his tarsi,
often while flapping his wings. The female moves
her rectrices to one side while the male wags his
lowered tail over her cloaca. He grasps her head or
neck while copulating, then steps off the female.
Extra -pair copulations rare (Cottrille and Cottrille
1958, Brandman 1976, Mock 1976, I. Moul pers.
comm.).
SOCIAL AND INTERSPECIFIC BEHAVIOR
Degree of sociality. Forages alone (Kushlan et
al. 1985) or in loose flocks throughout year (see
Spacing). Roosts alone or in loose flocks, on the
ground during day, above ground at night.
Hypothesis that colonies serve as information
centres for location of food patches is not well
supported (Mock et al. 1988).
Play. Nestlings and fledglings stab at inanimate
objects; adult play is undocumented.
Interactions other than predation with
members of other species. Utters mobbing calls
toward mammalian and avian predators. Mobbed
while flying by nesting gulls and chased by nesting
Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus). Bald Eagles; Bayer
1979), Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura; Kushlan
1978), and (rarely) gulls (Bayer 1985b, Quinney et
al. 1981) steal large food items. In turn, steals food
from gulls (Bayer 1985b) and (rarely) fish from
Osprey nests (A. Poole pers. comm.). Catches fish
driven near shore by Double- crested Cormorants
(RW B): Occasionally feeds with other ciconiiformes
(Kushlan 1978) and larids (Bayer 1985b). Its'nests
used by Canada Geese (Branta canadensis), House
Sparrows (Passer domesticus), and Great -horned
Owls (Bubo virginianus; Vermeer 1969, RWB).
Recovery of beaver (Castor canadensis) populations
in rte. U.S. and in s. Canada has benefited this
species by providing additional nesting and
foraging areas (e.g., N.Y. State; Andrle and Carroll
1988).
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
GREAT BLUE HERON
Predation. Northwestern Crows (Corvus
caurinus) and Common Ravens (C. corax) eat
unattended eggs (Butler 1989). Predators of
nestlings include eagles (Kelsall and Simpson 1979,
Koonz 1980, Forbes 1987, Norman et al. 1989),
raccoons (Lopinot 1952, Hjertas 1982), bears (Foss
1980, Parker 1980), Turkey Vultures (Meitner 1951)
and Red - tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis;Simpson
1984). Colony -sites abandoned after predators kill
adults (Butler 1991) and nestlings (Kelsall and
Simpson 1979, Simpson et al. 1987).
BREEDING
MATE SELECTION
Little information. Of 5 marked pairs in 1978,
all had new mates the following year (Simpson
1984). Herodias and occidentalis form pairs and
produce viable offspring with white and blue
plumages (Bent 1926, Powell et al. 1989).
PHENOLOGY
Pair formation. At some northern latitudes,
adults gather in flocks on the ground for several
days in spring before entering colony -sites
( "gathering grounds" sensu Mock 1976). Birds do
not occupy gathering grounds in Texas and
Michigan, and some roost at colony -site year -
round (Cottrille and Cottrille 1958, Mock 1976).
Function of gathering ground unclear.
Little published information on dates of pair
formation. Earliest adults return to colony -sites as
follows: California, Dec (Brandman 1976); Texas,
Jan (Mock 1976); British Columbia, mid -Jan on the
coast, late Mar interior sites (Butler et al. 1986,
RWB, Cannings et al. 1987); Pennsylvania, mid -
Feb (E. Bruckner pers. comm.); Alberta, late Mar
(Vermeer 1969). Herons . in some colonies apt'to
depart from colony -sites with little provocation at
this time;: may be inhibited from displaying by
high winds and low temperatures (Palmer 1962).
Courtship to egg laying early Jan to mid -Mar in
California (Brandman 1976), mid -Feb to early Apr
in British Columbia (RWB). Great White Heron
(occidentalis group) breed year -round but most
begin between Sep and Feb (Powell 1983).
First brood per season. Figure 3. First eggs: late
Feb in Oregon (Henny and Bethers 1971) and n.
California (Pratt 1970, Pratt and Winkler 1985);
early Mar in s. California (Brandman 1976); 3rd
week Mar in Idaho (Collazo 1981); 1st week Apr in
s. British Columbia (Butler 1989); mid-Apr in Nova
Scotia (McAloney 1973); late Apr in Alberta
(Vermeer 1969).
The Birds of North America, No. 25, 1992
Imo Primaries
Molt Body
Breeding Young
E
Mgration 7:11
Figure 3.
Annual cycle of
breeding, molt, and
migration of Great
Blue Herons In
British Columbia.
Coastal populations
are non-migratory.
Thick lines equal
peak activity, thin
lines off peak.
A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Editors
Second brood per season. Unclear how many
late -laid Butches are first or second attempts. Two
pairs renested after fledging first brood, 5 pairs
after death of nestlings in California (Brandman
1976). Most choose new mates after first attempt
fails (Simpson 1984). Insufficient time to raise 2
broods at northern latitudes.
NEST SITE
Nest as single pairs but mostly in colonies (Fig.
4). Mean distance flown from colony to principal
feeding sites 2.3 to 6.5 km (Dowd and Flake 1985b,
Thompson 1978, Parris 1979, Butler 1991). Two
radio - equipped breeding adults travelled 61.8 and
103.7 km in 20 to 25 h (Parris 1979). Number of
nests in British Columbia (Butler 1991), Oregon
(Werschkul et al. 1977, Bayer and McMahon 1981),
and Maine (Gibbs et al. 1987, Gibbs 1991) positively
related to area of nearby foraging habitat. Location
of colony sites best explained by distribution of
foraging habitats (Butler 1991, Gibbs 1991). Site
selection also predator - driven; like most other
herons, this species generally selects nest sites
difficult for mammalian predators to reach, e.g.,
islands, trees in swamps, high branches, etc.
Recovery of beaver (Castor.canadensis)populations
in ne. U.S. and s. Canada may have benefited this
species by providing a patchwork of large and
small swamps and wet meadows — additional
nesting and foraging areas (e.g., N.Y. State; Andrle
and Carroll 1988).
The American Ornithologists' Union
ROBERT W. BUTLER
Selection process. Males arrive in colony and
settle on nests, where they court females
(Brandman 1976, Mock 1976). Nest site fidelity
weak; 13 of 14 marked individuals choose different
nests the following yea (Simpson 1984), but fidelity
to the choice of tree species within colonies can be
strong (Kelsall and Simpson 1979). Some colonies
have long histories of use: 71 yr in Stanley Park, BC
(RWB), 37 yi•in Minnesota (M. Partch pers.comm.).
Site characteristics. Nests mostly in trees, up to
30 m or more above ground; usually lowland
swamp or upland hardwood forest, islands, forest -
bordered lakes and ponds, and riparian wood-
lands, including conifers. Where trees not available,
nests on ground (usually only on predator -free
islands; Taverner 1926, Gill and Mewaldt 1979), in
bullrushes, on shrubs (Behle 1958, Vermeer 1969),
cacti (Rosenberg et al. 1991), sagebrush (Blus et al.
1980), mangroves (generally islands; Powe111983),
duck blinds (Palmer 1962), channel markers
(Henny and Kurtz 1978, Blus et al. 1980), and
artificial nest platforms (Sandilands 1980). Nests
Figure 4.
Most Great Blue
Herons nest in
colonies. Drawing
by J. Zickefoose.
with other species of herons (Custer et al. 1980),
waterbirds, and even hawks, owls, and vultures
(Mengel 1965, Ryser 1985, Simpson 1987). Nest
density varies from 39 to 750 nests /ha in Oregon
colonies (Bayer and McMahon 1981).
NEST
Sticks gathered from the ground, nearby trees,
or unguarded nestsprimarily by males and placed
on nest by females ( Cottrille and Cottrille 1958,
Palmer 1962, Mock 1976). Nest built in 3 d to 2 wk,
a platform of twigs with saucer - shaped interior
lined with pine needles, moss, reeds, dry grass,
mangrove leaves, or small twigs (Cottrille and
Cottrille 1958, Palmer 1962, Pratt 1970). Four nests
in British Columbia weighed 2,570, 2,600, 2,800
and 4,820 g (Butler 1989). Material added
throughout nesting period.
Dimensions. Vary greatly, from flimsy new
platforms of sticks just 0.5 m diameter to bulky
older structures 0.9 to 1.2 m across (Andrle 1988);
about 1 m deep in nests used several times.
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
10 GREAT BLUE HERON
Microclimate. No information.
Maintenance or reuse of nests, alternate nests.
Nests often reused for many years. Twigs gathered
near nest (Pratt 1970) by male (mostly when eggs
are laid and hatched) and placed by female
(Brandman 1976). May build new nest if early
attempt fails (Pratt 1970).
EGGS
Shape. Eggs of Great Blue and Great White
herons similar (Bent 1926). Oval to long oval, long
elliptical or subelliptical (Harrison 1978).
Size. Length 50.7 to 76.5 mm; breadth 29.0 to
50.5 mm (Bent 1926). Mean length 61.38 to 65.57
mm, breadth 45.07 to 46.49 mm for 5 subspecies
described by Palmer (1962). Similar dimensions (6
subspecies) described by Butler (1989); volume 6.3
to 7.0 cm3, estimated fresh weight 67.7 to 79.9 g.
Fresh weight in Nova Scotia: 70.4 g in 1977 (SD =
3.8, range 63.5 -79.5, n = 27) and 71.6 g in 1978 (SD
= 4.1, range 61.0 -78.0, n = 34; Quinney and Smith
1979). Miniature eggs rarely laid; one from British
Columbia 35 x 45 mm (RWB).
Eggshell composition. The average concen-
tration of calcium in 8 eggshells from the Columbia
River, WA, 37.3% (Rickard and Schuler 1990). The
average concentration (ug /g) in the same 8 eggs
was 6.7 Zn, 170 Sr, 190 Ba, 48 Fe and 9.0 Cu.
Color. Dull pale blue; fades slightly with age.
See Harrison (1978).
Surface texture. Smooth or slightly rough.
Egg laying. Eggs laid mostly at 2 d intervals,
occasionally 3 d (Vermeer 1969; Pratt 1970,
McAloney 1973).
INCUBATION
Onset of broodiness and incubation in relation
to laying. Incubation by male and female (Pratt
1970, Brandman 1976, Mock 1979) began after first
egg was laid in California (Pratt 1970).
Incubation patch. No information.
Incubation period. About 27 d: Alberta, mean =
26.7 d (range 26-27, n = 6 clutches, Vermeer 1969);
California, 25, 28, 29, and 29 d (Pratt 1970); Nova
Scotia, mean = 27.1 d (range 25-30 d, n =11 nests;
McAloney 1973).
Parental behaviour. Bouts long; male on nest
an average of 10.4 h each day, females 3.5 h/d (n
= 7 nests; Brandman 1976). Females generally
incubate at night. Adults average 54 min / h sitting
on eggs (Pratt 1970). Eggs rolled by parent an
average of once every 2 h (Pratt 1970).
Hardiness of eggs. No information.
HATCHING
Preliminary events and vocalizations. No
information.
A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Editors
The Birds of North America, No. 25, 1992
Shell breaking and emergence. Chicks take 48 h
or less to become completely free from egg
(Quinney 1982). Time between hatching of first
and last eggs (when all eggs hatched) ranged from
2 to 6 d (mean = 3 d; McAloney 1973) and 4 to 8 d
(Quinney and Smith 1979) in Nova Scotia, 5 to 8 d
in California (Pratt 1970, Brandman 1976). Some
hatch on same day (Quinney 1982). In Texas, first
egg hatches an average 1.6 d before second egg
which hatches 1.7 d before third, which in turn
hatches 1.9 d before fourth egg (Mock 1978a).
Parental assistance and disposal of eggshells.
Adults throw most eggshells from nests soon after
hatching (Brandman 1976, Bayer 1982, Butler
1989,1991).
YOUNG BIRDS
Condition at hatching. Semi - altricial; back,
head, and sides of Great Blue chicks covered in
pale gray down, especially bushy on crown
(Harrison 1978). Wings, bill, and legs pinkish gray
and mostly unfeathered. Eye bluish and open.
Calling (sounds like tik- tik -tik) commences within
minutes of leaving the egg. Mean weight at
hatching in 2 Nova Scotia colonies: 49.3 g (SD = 3.2,
n = 5) and 51.8 g (SD = 7.1, n = 39; Quinney and
Smith 1979). Great White chicks covered in white
down at hatching.
Growth and development. Mass increase.
Quinney (1982) weighed and measured growth of
chicks up to 30 d of age. Last hatching chicks grew
slower than earlier hatching nestmates. Mass
increase was nearly linear in first 30 d of age. No
measurable sexual dimorphism at least before
28.5 d. Sixteen 45-d -old chicks weighed 86% of
adult weight. Asymptote of growth curve of hand -
reared chicks was 2.3 kg (D. Bennett pers. comm.).
Growth of body parts. Culmen, tarsus, proximal
wing length, wing chord and length of tenth
primary increase linearly. However, growth over
the entire nestling period is probably best explained
by logistic growth curve (Quinney 1982). Control
of body temperature: Little information. Gular
pouch fluttering at 18 d (Pratt 1970) positively
correlated with ambient temperature (Dowd and
Flake 1985a). Sunbathe at 27 d (Pratt 1970). Behavior
and locomotion. Described by Pratt (1970) and
Dowd and Flake (1985a). Preening starts at 6 d of
age, stagger to their feet at 14 d and walk steadily
at 21 d. Brood reduction, prevalent in many nests,
proposed to be the outcome of aggression
precipitated by size of prey items delivered to
chicks by parents (Mock 1985, 1986, 1987). Wing -
flapping starts in fourth week and short hops
made into branches near nest at 7 wk. Sustained
flights begin at 60 d. Recognizes parents
approaching colony at 9 wk. Depart nest at mean
The American Ornithologists' Union
of 81 d (range 64-91 d), chicks of late - nesting pairs
at mean of 67 d.
PARENTAL CARE
Brooding. Shared by both parents (see Behavior
self maintenance). Begins immediately after
hatching and lasts 3 to 4 wk (RWB).
Feeding. Both parents feed chicks (see Behavior.
self maintenance). Newly hatched chicks peck at
adult's bill, the nest, and each other (Pratt 1970).
Adult stands on rim of nest and places food in
open bill of chicks ( Cottrille and Cottrille 1958). By
end of second week, chicks grasp adult's bill
momentarily; by the end of the third week, until
they leave nest, chicks pull adult's bill into the nest
(Pratt 1970). Sometimes they reach into adult's
open mouth (Cottrille and Cottrille 1958). Largest
chicks get most food (Mock 1985, 1986, 1987).
Chicks also eat regurgitated food dropped by
parents in nest for up to about 30 d after hatching,
then take food directly from parents (Mock 1987).
Food remains eaten by parents.
Aggression between nestmates is low and not
related to brood size (Mock et al. 1987a). Brood
reduction is apparently not mediated by hunger
of nestmates but by size of prey items delivered by
parents (Mock et al. 1987b). Chicks fed small prey
compete to monolopize food boluses and fight
with nest mates more frequently than chicks fed
large prey items.
Two - day -old chicks fed 10 times in 13 h, 6-d-
old chicks more variable: 6 times in 13 h, twice in
15 h (Pratt 1970). Number of feeding visits /h
peaked at about 29 d after hatch, lowest rate
several weeks before fledging (Dowd and Flake
1985b).
Nest sanitation. Most eggshells thrown from
nests (Brandman 1976). Feces, partly eaten prey,
and dead chicks remain in nest and on ground
below. Chicks sometimes regurgitate into nest or
onto ground below when disturbed (RWB).
Parental carrying of young. Not known to occur.
COOPERATIVE BREEDING
Not known to occur.
BROOD PARASITISM
Not known to occur.
FLEDGLING STAGE
Departure from the nest. Age at first flight:
Alberta, 52.6 d (range 51 -54 d, Vermeer 1969), 7 to
8 wk in Oregon (Werschkul et a1.1977) and Nova
Scotia (Quinney and Smith 1979). First flight as
early as 60 d, mean of 81 d, in California (Pratt
1970).
• Growth. See above: Breeding: young birds.
ROBERT W. BUTLER 11
Associations with parents or other young.
Fledglings return to nest to be fed by adults for a
further 3 wk ( Quinney and Smith 1979). Fledglings
in British Columbia follow adults from the foraging
grounds to the nest to be fed, or return to nest
alone (RWB).
Ability to get around, feed, and care for self.
First flights clumsy but improve rapidly. Foraging
skills poorer than adults (Quinney and Smith
1980, Butler 1991). Strike and pace rates similar to
adults but capture rates about half of adults during
2 mo following nest departure ( Quinney and Smith
1991, Butler 1991).
IMMATURE STAGE
Independent of adults a few weeks after first
flight. Wander in late summer. Forage with adults
on beaches in British Columbia until about Oct,
after which juveniles feed in grasslands and
marshlands (Butler 1991).
DEMOGRAPHY AND POPULATIONS
MEASURES OF BREEDING ACTIVITY
Age at first breeding; intervals between
breeding. Most apparently breed in second spring
(i.e. > 22 mo), based upon plumage, but this
conclusion might reflect ability of observers to age
herons. Juvenile plumaged birds have attempted
to breed (Pratt 1973, RWB).
Clfitchf2 to 6 eggs; generally increases with
latitude. Great Blue: California, mean = 3.16, SE =
0.04, n = 297 (Pratt and Winkler 1985); Oregon
mean = 4.19, SD not given, n = 32 (Henny and
Bethers 1971); Nova Scotia, mean = 4.2, SD = 0.8, n
= 36 (McAloney 1973); Quebec, weighted mean =
4.1, n = 77 (data in DesGranges 1979); British
Columbia, mean = 4.2, SD = 0.6, n = 23 (Butler
1989); Alberta, mean = 5.0, SD not given, n = 11
(Vermeer 1969). Decreases through season (Pratt
and Winkler 1985).
Great White: Florida, mean = 2.9, SD = 0.6, n =
64 (Powell 1983);
Annual and lifetime reproductive success.
Annual success based on number of nests with
eggs varies widely. Most authors, however, report
only the number of fledged young per successful
nest (nest fledging young), which shows small
annual variation: mean of means 2.3 young /nest
(SD = 0.30, n = 16 studies, RWB). Future studies
should determine number of fledglings raised per
nesting attempt. Lifetime reproductive success
unknown.
Most researchers have been unable to see into
nests so causes of chick loss remain poorly known.
The average reproductive success (mean number
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
12 GREAT BLUE HERON
of chicks fledged per successful nest /mean dutch
size) is 62.5% (n = 8 studies, Florida to Alberta).
LIFE SPAN AND SURVIVORSHIP
Mortality estimates from band recovery data:
first year 69.0 %, second year 36.3%, subsequent
years 21.9% (Henny 1972). Varies regionally (Bayer
1981b). Oldest banded heron 23 yr (RWB). Herons
banded on refuges in U.S. appeared to live longer
than herons banded off refuges (Bayer 1981b).
MORTALITY AND DISEASE
Diseases and body parasites. Giardia found in
adult male in New York (Georgi et al. 1986). Also
carries the nematode Eustrongylides ignotus, which
can kill herons (Locke 1961). Transmission of fish
pathogenic viruses may occur via the Grey Heron
(A. cinerea, Peters and Neukirch 1986).
RANGE
Initial dispersal from natal site. Little
information. Band recoveries suggest that few
yearlings return to natal areas (Henny 1972).
Fidelity to breeding and winter home range. No
information, but some adults hold feeding
territories through winter Bayer 1978, Butler 1991).
Figure 5.
Median number of
Great Blue
Herons per region
in Christmas Bird
Counts reporting
L 1 heron, winter
1991, U.S. and
Canada.
A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Editors
The Birds of North America, No. 25, 1992
Dispersal from breeding site or colony. Disperse
away from colonies after breeding (Gill and
Mewaldt 1979, Pratt 1970, Butler 1991), along coast
and up rivers in Texas (Telfair and Swepston
1987). Band recoveries suggest dispersal in all
directions 2 to 3 months post - breeding, then
southward movement in autumn; one banded
juvenile from U.S. found in Belize (Henny 1972).
Home range. Little known outside breeding
season. Breeding adults range within about 30 km
of colony, most much closer (Parris 1979, Butler
1991).
POPULATION STATUS
Estimates or counts of density. Coastal breeding
populations of Great Blue Heron on U.S. East
Coast, Gulf Coast, and Great Lakes show highest
densities in Texas, Mississippi delta, w. Florida,
and Chesapeake Bay (Spendelow and Patton 1988).
Stable or increasing in Tennessee (since 1974;
Fleming et al. 1984) and Illinois (since 1982; Kleen
1987), probably stable on coast of British Columbia
(since 1982; Butler 1989) and n. Washington
(Murphy 1988), but many colonies abandoned
after a :few years. Increasing in Michigan (since
early .1980s; W. C. Scharf, unpubl. data) and
probably in Louisiana (5 censuses over 37 yr;
Ogden 1978). In New York, increased 1952 to 1962
(Bull 1964) and since 1962 (Andrle 1988). Decreased
after dams built on Colorado River (Rosenberg et
al. 1991), probably declined in Iowa (Dinsmore et
a1.1984) and in Illinois (Robbins et al. 1986). Great
White Heron have rebounded since the 1930s and
may be stable or still increasing (Ogden
1978).Figure 5 shows winter density.
Population numbers. About 32% of all breeding
Great Blue Herons (36,248 birds) along coast from
Texas to Maine and in U.S. Great Lakes were on
Atlantic Coast, < 10% in Florida, 40% in Louisiana
and Texas, and 18% along the Great Lakes
(Spendelow and Patton 1988). About 12,211 herodias
nests in 248 colonies and 34 isolates in Ontario in
early 1980s (Peck and James 1983), minimum of
13,022 pairs in Ontario in 1980 to 1981 (Dunn et al.
1985). On Great Lakes in Michigan, 1,064 nests
tallied in 32 colonies in 1987 (Scharf, unpubl. data).
About 5,340 nesting pairs in 35 colonies in Illinois
(IQeen 1987). Between 1967 to 1972, 4,000 nests
counted in 56 colonies in Canadian Prairies
(Vermeer 1973). Little information elsewhere in
heron's range. About 1,500 individual Great White
Herons estimated for Florida Bay in 1985 (Powell
et a1.1989).
The American Ornithologists' Union
POPULATION REGULATION
Severe winters might reduce northern popula-
tions when foraging sites freeze (Blus and Henny
1981). Populations in Florida decimated by
hurricanes, but recovered to former levels (Powell
et al. 1989). Evidence for regulation during the
breeding season weak or non - existent. Nest sites
not limiting in general; number of breeding pairs
in colonies positively related to the area of nearby
wetlands (Bayer and McMahon 1981, Gibbs et al.
1987), suggesting food supply a critical limitation,
perhaps not surprising in a species so strongly
territorial.
CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITY
Contaminants. Eggshell thickness correlated
negatively with DDE (Blus et al. 1980, Laporte
1982, Fleming et al. 1984) but not PCB (Vermeer
and Reynolds 1972, Ohlendorf et al. 1979, Fleming
et al. 1984, but see Blus et al. 1980), although PCB
levels were high in a colony that failed in Quebec
(Laporte 1982). Mean eggshell thickness has
declined compared to pre-1947 levels (Anderson
and Hickey 1972): 5.3% to 13.1% (12 colonies,
Laporte 1982; 2 colonies, Blus et al. 1980;13 colonies,
Bayer 1982; 4 colonies, Fleming et al. 1984).
Eggshells broken during incubation an average of
14% to 17% thinner than pre-1947 levels (Faber et
al. 1972, Bayer 1982). Wide variation in intraclutch
eggshell thickness (Fleming et al. 1984). No clear
evidence of adverse effects on reproductive success
(Blus et al. 1980, Fleming et al. 1984), but measures
of success often too crude to detect subtle
differences (see Demography and Populations:
measures of breeding activity). Induction of liver
enzymes (Bellward et al. 1990), reduced growth
and development of young (Hart et a1.1991), and
possible reproductive failure (Elliott et al. 1988,
1989) associated with colonies highly contaminated
with dioxins (but see Moul 1990). High con-
centrations of dieldrin (Ohlendorf et al. 1981) and
endrin (Ohlendorf et al. 1979) suspected to be
lethal to Great Blue Herons.
Disturbance. Nest and colony abandonments
increase with increased visits by humans (Drapeau
et al. 1984) and with road building and logging
activity within 0.5 km (Werschkul et al. 1976).
Some colonies splinter and attempt to settle nearby
following abandonment (Parker 1980). Response
to disturbance can vary between sites and time of
breeding season (Vos et a1.1985). Early in season,
herons flush easily from nests with slightest
disturbance; after eggs, they fly reluctantly and
ROBERT W. BUTLER 13
Figure 6.
Great Blue Heron at
rest. Drawing by
AIIan Brooks; US
Fish & Wildlife
Service art
collection, archives
of the Academy of
Natural Sciences
(Stewart Library),
Philadelphia.
return quickly to nests; few flush when chicks in
nest. Birds habituate to non - threatening repeated
activities (Anderson 1978, Parker 1980, Vos et al.
1985). Colonies are probably dynamic in areas of
high disturbance with individuals and entire
colonies relocating between years. Most studies
recommend a minimum 300 m buffer zone from
the periphery of colonies in which no human
activity should take place during courtship and
nesting seasons, with the exception of scientific
study (reviewed by Butler 1992); however, the
most easily disturbed herons left nests in a colony
in British Columbia when Butler (1992) approached
on foot within 200 m early in the season. Other
colonies were less easily disturbed early in the
season. This species might have suffered more
from loss of wetlands than from overt human
activities (English 1978, Rosenberg et al. 1991) and
benefitted from open fish ponds and hatcheries.
Populations suffered from shooting in past but
have not retracted from former range. Attitudes
have changed; conspicuousness of this bird that
led to its hunting early in the century may now act
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
14 GREAT BLUE HERON
in its favour. Protection of colony- sites, feeding
grounds, and suitable winter habitats probably
most important. Screening protects fish in ponds
and hatcheries from this and other herons (Mott
1978).
APPEARANCE
MOLTS AND PLUMAGES
Juvenal plumage. Great Blue Heron: according
to Palmer (1962) pushes out down so that chicks
are well feathered by one third grown. Most of
Basic I plumage of juvenile acquired in autumn
and retained for > 1 yr.
Basic I plumage. Slaty crown sometimes
showing small white basally or totally white
feathers, grayish rather than brownish neck, white
sides of face, dark neck feathers, and narrow
sometimes elongated mantle feathers. Cinnamon
colored feather edging on wing coverts (RWB).
Alternate I plumage. Acquired in first winter;
characterized most notably by molt of new crown
feathers.
Basic II plumage. Worn by yearlings (13-24 mo
or longer); gray or gray - streaked crown (i.e. not all
white), blackish sides of crown, and short occipital
plumes, elongated feathers on sides of neck and
mantle but shorter than in adults, and black
shoulder patch. Cinnamon feather edging on wing
coverts sometimes present (RWB). Prebasic II molt
of all feathers in summer or autumn, completed in
autumn. Molt of throat plumes begins after eggs
are laid (Apr -May), of flight feathers in Jun in
British Columbia (RWB).
Alternate II plumage. Second winter composed
of at least new forehead, crown feathers, wing
covert and some back feathers. Molts probably
proceed distally among primaries, proximally in
secondaries, and centripetally in rectrices, as in
Grey Heron (A. cinerea; Milstein et a1.1970). Great
White Heron: wholly white in all stages. Molt
sequence probably similar to herodias (Bent 1926,
Palmer 1962).
Description. Juveniles (0-12 mo) brownish
compared to adults; crowns are gray (may have 1
cm'- white patch at 8 mo); no body plumes; rust -
brown edging to back and wing coverts; upper
maxillary is brownish, lower is yellowish. Yearlings
(13-24 mo) resemble adults but have more gray on
forehead and crown; rust -brown edges to wing
coverts; plumes on breast are short or absent.
Adults, Great Blue Heron: sexes similar, but
males on average slightly larger than females
(Table 1). Adults (> 24 mo) slaty-gray on wings,
A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Editors
The Birds of North America, No. 25, 1992
back and sides of neck; primaries darker than rest
of wing; black, white and rusty streaks on front of
neck; sides black and rust, black patch near bend
of folded wing; underparts streaked with black,
white belly and under tail; face and crown white
with wide black occipital bands terminating in
usually 2 plumes; yellowish bill long and tapered;
legs brownish or greenish; plumes extend from
sides of neck, breast and over back; middle toe
pectinated. 70% of adults in British Columbia can
be sexed with 95% confidence using length of
exposed culmen (Simpson 1984, Butler et a1.1990).
BARE PARTS
Breeding season. In Florida, bright orange or
red bills, bright lime -green lores, bright red legs
and feet and yellow iris (Meyerriecks 1960). In
Minnesota and Texas, bills mostly yellow, bright
cobalt -blue lores, reddish legs; irides deeper yellow
(Mock 1976). British Columbia: bright yellow bills,
blue-green lores, and greenish -yellow legs (RWB).
Maryland: red bills, blue lores, reddish legs (Dolesh
1984). Color fades soon after egg laying begins.
Legs and bills "reddish" in Nova Scotia (Quinney
and Smith 1979).
Nonbreeding season. Great Blue and Great
White in Florida have dull yellow bills, pale
grayish -blue lores, and yellow irides; legs and feet
yellowish -green in former, brownish or greenish-
black in latter (Meyerriecks 1960). In British
Columbia, bills dorsally yellowish -brown and
ventrally dull yellow, lores pale grayish -blue, legs
brownish - green, feet yellow - green, irides yellow
(RWB).
MEASUREMENTS
Adult males slightly larger than adult females
(Table 1). Little information on Great White Heron,
suggesting similar to Great Blue (Palmer 1962).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I thank Darin Bennett, Ed Bruckner, Ian Moul,
Max Partch, Bill Scharf and Marilyn Sigman for
use of unpublished data, and Range Bayer and
Peter Stettenheim for helpful comments on this
manuscript. Bob Chandler wrote the section on
fossil history, Fred Sheldon the section on
systematics. The Christmas Bird Count database
depends on input from volunteers across the
continent. Cover photo by Arthur Morris.
The American Ornithologists' Union
ROBERT W. BUTLER 15
Table 1. Length (mm) of exposed culmen and tarsus, and body mass (kg) of Great Blue
Herons. Standard deviation and sample size appears in parantheses. Data from British
Columbia: Simpson (1984); Nova Scotia and eastern North America: Quinney & Smith (1979);
Oregon: Bayer (1981c).
LOCATION
EXPOSED CL/LMEN TARSUS BODY MASS
British Columbia
Adult Male
Adult Female
137.0 (4.4, 24)
123.9 (4.7, 29)
165.9 (6.7, 24)
152.0 (7.0, 29)
2.48 (0.29, 24)
2.11 (0.34, 29)
Nova Scotia
Adult Male
Adult Female
141.2 (8.6, 9)
136.5 (5.3, 13)
178.7 (11.6, 16)
170.8 (12.2, 15)
No data
No data
Eastern Canada & U.S. No data
Adult Males and Females
No data 2.23 (0.76, 37)
Oregon
Adult
Juvenile (July)
Juvenile (Aug -Dec)
Yearling (Jun -Jan)
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
No data
2.09 (0, 1)
1.76 (0.29, 4)
1.98 (0.50, 4)
2.22 (0.40, 3)
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Proc. 1st Welder Wildl. Found. Symp. 1: 145-161.
Mock, D. W. 1985. Siblicidal brood reduction: the prey-
,
size hypothesis. Am. Nat. 125: 327 -343.
Mock, D. 1986. Advantages and disadvantages of egret
• ' and heron brood reduction. Evolut. 40: 459-470.
Mock, D. W. 1987. Siblicide, parent - offspring conflict,
and unequal parental investment by egrets and
herons. Behay. Ecol. Sociobiol. 20: 247 -256.
Mock, D. W., T. C. Lamey, and D. B. A. Thompson.
• 1988. Falsifiability and the information centre
hypothesis. Ornis Scand. 19: 231 -248.
A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Editors
The Birds of North America, No. 25, 1992
Montevecchi, W. A. and L. M. Tuck. 1987. New-
foundland birds: exploitation, study, and con-
servation. Publ. Nuttall. Ornithol. Club, No. 21,
Cambridge, MA.
Mott, D. F. 1978. Control of wading bird predation at
fish - rearing facilities, pp. 131 -134 in Wading birds
(A. Sprunt IV, J. C. Ogden, and S. Winkler, Eds.).
Natl. Audubon Soc. Res. Rept. No. 7, New York.
Moul, I. E. 1990. Environmental contaminants,
disturbance and breeding failure at a Great Blue
Heron colony on Vancouver Island. M.Sc. thesis,
Univ. Brit. Col., Vancouver.
Murphy, M. 1988. Status of Great Blue Heron colonies
in King County, Washington. Western Birds 19:
37-40
Norman, D. M., A. M. Breault and I. E. Moul. 1989. Bald
Eagle incursions and predation at Great Blue Heron
colonies. Colonial Waterbirds 12: 143 -230.
Ogden, J. C. 1978. Recent population trends of colonial
wading birds on the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal
plains, pp. 137 -154 in Wading birds (A. Sprunt IV,
J. C. Ogden, and S. Winkler, Eds.). Natl. Audubon
Soc. Res. Rep. No. 7, New York
Ohlendorf, H. M., D. M. Swineford, and L. N. Locke.
1979. Organochlorine poisoning of herons. Proc.
Colonial Waterbird Group 3: 176 -185.
Ohlendorf, H. M., D. M. Swineford, and L. N. Locke.
1981. Organochlorine residues and - mortality of
herons. Pest. Monitor. J. 14: 125 -135.
Olson, S. L. 1985. The fossil record of birds, pp. 79 -238
in Avian Biology, Vol. 8, (D. S. Farner, J. R. King,
and K. C. Parkes, Eds.). Academic Press, New York.
Palmer, R. S. 1962. Handbook of North American birds,
Vol. 1. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, CT.
Parker, J. 1980. Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) in
Northwestern Montana: nesting habitat use and
the effects of human disturbance. M.Sc. thesis, Univ.
Montana.
Parmalee, P. W. 1977. The avifauna from prehistory
Arikara sites in South Dakota. Plains Anthropol.
22: 200.
Parris, R. W. 1979. Aspects of Great Blue Heron (Ardea
herodias) foraging ecology in southwest Lake Erie.
M.Sc. thesis, Ohio State Univ., Columbus.
Payne, R. B. 1979. Ardeidae, pp. 193 -244 in Checklist of
Birds of the World (E. Mayr and G. W. Cottrell,
Eds.). Mus. Comp. Zool., Cambridge, MA.
Payne, R. B. and C. J. Risley. 1976. Systematics and
evolutionary relationships among the herons
(Ardeidae). Misc. Publ. Univ. Michigan Mus. Zool.
150: 1-115.
Peck, G. K. and R. D. James. 1983. Breeding birds of
Ontario. Nidiology and distribution. Vol. 1: non -
passerines. Roy. Ont. Mus., Toronto. .
Peifer, R. W. 1979. Great Blue Herons foraging for
small mammals. Wilson Bull. 91: 63 -631.
Peters, F. and M. Neukirch. 1986. Transmission of
some fish pathogenic viruses by the heron, Ardea
cinerea. J. Fish Dis. 9: 539 -544.
Powell, G. V. N. 1983. Food availability and
reproduction by Great White Herons Ardea herodias:
a food addition study. Colonial Waterbirds 6:139-
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To Whom It May Concern: January 21, 2002
Summary — The Problem
I am very concerned for the unique environment and wildlife in Peltier Lake and I am concerned for the
hundreds of users of the Lake.
It seems that just two individuals have insisted on constructing and using an illegal slalom water -ski course set
in a sheltered part of the lake right next to the Heron rookery where 700 nests have been counted. (It is illegal to
leave a course in place overnight without a permit.) I believe their noisy boats and activity disturbed the birds
and essentially all the birds left the rookery for the 2001 summer season. In addition, mostly coontail and other
beneficial aquatic plants were uprooted by their powerful boats causing environmental damage that can easily
be seen from an aerial photo. The lake is only 3 to 4 feet deep in that area and I believe huge amounts of silt
were put in suspension by their downward thrusting heavy inboard water -ski boats. The fall of 2001 gave Peltier
Lake perhaps the worst water quality I have seen in my 22 years on the Lake and I suspect is could be due to the
environmental disregard demonstrated by these two individuals. I have never seen coontail wash ashore like it
did in August. After the sheriff finally made them remove the illegal slalom water -ski course, they continued to
set up the course during days in the same location. Later they moved into various main parts of the Lake
causing hardship and restricting others from full use of Peltier Lake. I saw fisherman and other boats forced to
go around the slalom water -ski course they established. They essentially cordoned off their own huge private
area in what is supposed to be a public resource.
In 1998, these same 2 individuals constructed a
slalom water -ski course in the same sensitive
place right next to the Heron rookery. At the
end of the year bird populations seemed down
and there was great concern. A meeting with
lakeshore owners and several government
agencies was held on April 27, 1999, and an
agreement was reached that there would be no
water - skiing in the sensitive area near the
Heron rookery. On July 7, 2001, I saw these
same 2 individuals using a slalom water -ski
course again in exactly the same spot. When I
approached them with my concern, they said
they didn't agree to anything and they could do
anything they want. It is crystal clear to me that
"informal agreements" do NOT work. Formal
protection and regulation is required. Even if
these 2 individuals quit their activities, there is
always the potential for anyone from anywhere
to come in and do the same or worse.
All indications are that an entire species, the
unique and uncommon Black - crowned Night
Heron, has completely vanished since 1998,
which exactly coincides with the start of slalom
water -ski activity next to the rookery. To me,
this is not a coincidence. After foraging at
night, Black- crowned Night Herons come back
to roost during the daytime and are extremely vulnerable to daytime disturbance which is what would happen
with a slalom water -ski course next to the rookery. An entire species being wiped out from the rookery is very
disturbing to me.
Summary — A Solution
I recommend protection with local regulation something like the below be enacted before Marchl5 to include
ice -out to ice - covered (otherwise they could setup the day of ice -out).
1. North of the bog poles, all non - powered craft stay at least 500 feet away from the island, and power
boats are not permitted. (The mostly beneficial aquatic plants are so thick there that power boats
normally have difficulty anyway — it is only 3 to 4 feet deep.)
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2. South of the bog poles, fishing boats and other boats going at no -wake speed are permitted to within 100
feet of the island, and water skiing is not permitted within 500 feet of the island.
3. Slalom water -ski courses or any marking off of areas in Peltier Lake is not permitted. (The main part of
Peltier Lake is about 2000 feet by 4000 feet and a slalom water -ski course has an impact of over 2000
feet in length with its turn around. Peltier Lake is too small and too unique to justify support of such
activity).
4. The island be posted as a bird sanctuary with no trespassing. Signs be added at the boat launch, and
buoys, markers, and other signs be located by the island.
I hope the various governments pull together and support an action that will help restore and protect the Heron
rookery, restore equal access for everyone to the Peltier Lake resource, and preserve and protect the
environment from damage.
Details — My Background
I've lived on Peltier Lake since 1979. In 1989, I started the Peltier Lake Association. Here are some of the
accomplishments:
• Worked lake level issues when St Paul Water pumped Centerville and Peltier Lake down 6 feet in 1988.
• Participated on the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) Citizen Advisory Committee for 3 years and
learned much about watersheds.
• Began a roughly 4 year Curlyleaf Pondweed harvesting effort for Peltier Lake in 1989.
• Motivated RCWD to implement a $90,000 Cleanwater Partnership water quality study for the Centerville
and Peltier Lake watershed in 1990.
• Worked dam level issues as landowners upstream wanted the dam removed and/or lake levels dropped over
winter.
• Monitor Peltier Lake water quality for the Metropolitan Council starting in 1989.
• Launched an effort to manually dig out recently discovered Eurasian Watermilfoil in Peltier Lake in the fall
of 2000.
• In 2001, found $5,000 in RCWD grant money to help harvest and attempt to control the exotic Curlyleaf
Pondweed in Peltier Lake south of the island.
• Participate in the Centerville Park and Recreation Committee and advocate community trails.
• Volunteer as an Assistant Scoutmaster.
I'm afraid that virtually everything I've worked for in trying to preserve and improve Peltier Lake is in
jeopardy
Details — Behavior Observed
To put the problem into perspective, I believe it is worth describing some observed behavior of the two
individuals involved.
Both were at the April 1999, meeting where numerous experts explained the sensitivity of the area and to please
not ski there. Yet, on July 7, 2001, these same two individuals repeated their previous behavior and set up a
slalom water -ski course next to the rookery. When I expressed my concern, they said they didn't agree to
anything. Later, when I started asking a few other people on the lake about the situation, I was visited on July
10, 2001, by Jerry Lindner and Cindy Lindner who rudely threatened me with a lawsuit saying I was somehow
denying them the right of their disabled child to ski the slalom course. They said the ADA was going to get me.
They said they were going to sue the Peltier Lake Association for numerous illegal actions. They each had a
sheet of paper and seemed to be reading a script. I said I wanted everything in writing. Then I said you have a
ski course, right? He said that it was his ski course and he had it rigged so that it sunk when he wasn't using it
so nobody else could use it. It was just for him. I asked how long the ski course had been there. He hesitated and
said, I'm not answering that. Then I asked him if it was there right now and he again said, I'm not answering
that. On July 23, the Anoka County sheriff said he found the slalom water ski course and told the owner it must
be removed. So on July 10, when Jerry Lindner and Cindy Lindner were threatening me and intimidating me
with every legal word they could think of, they must have had an illegal water -ski course next to the Heron
rookery. Do these actions show respect for regulation or for other people?
Regarding the other person, all the years he had his current boat on Peltier Lake, he apparently felt no need to
license it. It wasn't until DNR and other vehicles started showing up that he finally got a license for his boat in
July. I have seen him drive his boat right next to fishermen when the whole lake was clear (at least now
someone has a chance at reading a registration number). I was fishing once myself when he drove by within 50
feet pulling a skier. He happened to come back near us and my daughter called out to him, "Can't you see we're
fishing here ?" He said, "There aren't any fish there." I said, "No, not anymore." Do these actions show respect
for regulation or for other people?
In the spring of 1999, I was canoeing around the island when I discovered a float just under the surface. I pulled
it up and saw it was part of the slalom water -ski course from 1998. I looked around and saw another, then
another. That's when I stopped looking. I don't know how many more were there, but it seemed like there was
already an intention to return. Permits do not extend through the winter. All material must be removed from the
lake. In August of 2001, I watched them take down their course in the main part of the lake in the evening. In
every case I observed, they only removed the top float. They left all the other apparatus in the water overnight
(which is illegal without a permit). They set their course up in the only place where I have ever caught a walleye
in the lake. With all kinds of lines, concrete blocks and who knows what down there, I wouldn't go fishing
there. And even if they had a slalom water -ski course that sunk when not in use, there would probably be over
1,000 feet of hose, lines and other apparatus under water so you couldn't fish there.
My opinion is that strict enforcement of new clear regulations as described before are required to protect the
Heron rookery, the environment, and normal users of the lake.
Details — The Rookery
Peltier Lake contains a large wilderness island that used to be home to Black - crowned Night Herons and a large
number of Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, and other birds. The shoreline areas of the lake to the north, east,
and west of this island are also essentially wilderness. These areas are rarely frequented by people because the
waters there are only 3 to 4 feet deep with a loose silty mud bottom and the area is packed with mostly
beneficial aquatic plants. It is an ideal rookery.
On July 7, the day I encountered the slalom water -ski course in use north of the island, I did not see any Herons
or Egrets north, east, or south of the island (I could not see west of the island). On July 8, the course was again
in heavy use. On July 25, I did a careful survey and could not find any Herons or Egrets anywhere on Peltier
Lake west, south, or east of the island. The Herons and Egrets seemed essentially gone for the season. There
may be some here and there but for 22 years previous to 1998, I have always seen Great Blue Herons, Great
Egrets, and Black - crowned Night Herons from my house from spring to fall essentially every day. They land on
the dock or fly to the delta at Clearwater creek about 'h mile away from my house. From my house since July 7,
I did not seen any Black- crowed Night Herons, Great Egrets, or Great Blue Herons for at least 3 weeks. Most
significant, however, the Black - crowned Night Herons disappeared 3 years ago, exactly corresponding to the
establishment of the first slalom water ski course.
The summer of 2000 also saw abandonment of the rookery sometime in June. There was speculation that it
might have been the I35W road reconstruction, however, it is also worth considering the possibility that there
was slalom water -ski activity north of the island. This area is not easy to see from the main part of the lake
(which is why the birds like it so well).
North, east and west of the island, most vegetation consists of native beneficial aquatic plants such as coontail.
An image showing the course cut through these aquatic plants is available to anyone via www.mapquest.com.
Type in "Peltier Lake" with zip code 55038, pick one of the results and recenter upward (northward) to the top
of the island. Click on the "Aerial Photo" tab. Right click it and do a "save as" and lighten the image to better
see the track. The ski track is almost horizontal just north of the island angled slightly upward (see dashed line
in figure on page 1) and the right hand end has a counter clockwise curl where the ski boats turn around.
Details — Slalom Water -ski Course Impact
Almost everyone on the lake lives south of the island with the western shore belonging to Anoka County Parks.
The area south of the island is narrow and small.
Refer to the map of Peltier Lake with a slalom water ski course drawn to scale. In the center, is the course (with
its 22 to 28 buoys) and two turnaround ends. Surrounding it all is a buffer of 150 feet. The total estimated
impact footprint for a course with a short turn around is about 2,320 feet by 448 feet and for a course with a
long turn around, 2,580 feet by 448 feet (course data from www.iwsf.com). The surface area depicted is for the
smaller course and has a impact size of about 25 acres.
Estimated Slalom Water Ski Course Impacts
On Peltier Lake
Slalom water ski course size to scale
150' buffer
2 tum arounds
course I
Smallest version of official
slalom water ski course
2,320' x 449'
(largest is about 2,580' x 8
1000 Feet
The geography of Peltier Lake does not allow for
easy placement of a course without severely
hampering other users of the lake. People tend to
fish in a trolling circle around the lake south of the
island right through the areas where the two vertical
courses are shown. With a slalom water -ski course
on either the east or west sides of the lake, the
fishing area is essentially reduced by almost half.
Because Peltier Lake is long and narrow instead of
circular, the placement of a slalom water ski course
anywhere dramatically affects the ability of others to
use the lake.
There is no reason tiny Peltier Lake should dedicate
a third of its usable surface area to such a resource
hogging specialized activity.
There are alternatives for those who want a slalom
water -ski course. Just across the road, on adjacent
Centerville Lake, there is a water ski club that
performs at least weekly. They already regularly
obtain a permit for a water ski jump and it seems
likely that something could be set up with this club
to provide a slalom water -ski course in the same
rough area. Centerville Lake is much bigger in its
usable area. As another alternative, Goose Lake, just
south of White Bear Lake, has a permanent slalom
water -ski course installation.
As boating pressures continue to increase in the
future, it will be even more important to be careful
that everyone has equal access to lake resources. Not
permitting slalom water -ski courses just ensures that
everyone can fish, boat, and water ski with equal
access to the Peltier Lake resource. It also helps
ensure protection of the rookery.
Conclusion
I'd like to see Peltier Lake given back to Black -
crowned Night Herons, the Great Egrets, and Great
Blue Herons. I'd like to see that fishermen, simple
water skiers, sailors, canoeists, and other boaters
have equal access to the Peltier Lake resource. The
resources of Peltier Lake need formal protection. This is a unique situation with its rookery and relatively small
size and requires unique regulation. The impact of a fishing boat or even a single water ski boat with skier is
negligible compared with the 25 acre monster foot print of a 2,320 foot by 448 foot slalom water -ski course.
See again the four points listed under "A Soulution" above.
Thank you.
Wayne LeBlanc
Appe
Aerial photo taken July 23, 2001 north of island.
Swirl in lower center is turn around.
July 8, 2001 north of island.
August 4, 2001. Slalom course north of island.
Setting up course north of island, August 4, 2001.
August, 2001. Course in main part of lake (south of the island).
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Coontail aquatic vegetation washed on shore, August 2001.
Rotting coontail, August 20001
Bad water quality, August 2001.
John K. VonDeLinde
Director
May 4, 1999
Anoka County
Department of Parks & Recreation
Wayne LeBlanc
Peltier Lake Association
1677 Peltier Lake Drive
Centerville, Minnesota 55038
Dear Wayne:
550 Bunker Lake Boulevard NW • Andover, Minnesota 55304
Telephone-2) 757 -3920 • FAX (612) 755 -0230
763
Thank you for setting up the meeting with the Peltier Lake Association April 27. The turnout
was exceptional. Everyone's comments were heard and they provided valuable background on
the use of the lake and the history behind the development of the Lakeshore. There is obvious
passion for the lake and a strong desire to keep a sense of community.
Anoka County Parks and Recreation appreciates being a part of the meeting. As everyone is
aware, Anoka County is a major landowner along Peltier Lake. We would also be glad to be a
part of any future meetings. The St. Paul Waterworks is also a landowner on the lake.
Everyone connected to the lake has an interest in issues that apply.
This note is meant to provide a review of the decisions made at the April 27 meeting. The
consensus was to try the following options:
1. Voluntarily keep any water skiing to the main body of the lake south of the
island. There was agreement to avoid skiing in the area north of the island.
The request is to keep fast moving boats at least 500 feet from the island.
2. Anoka County Parks and Recreation will work with the water skiing sub-
committee to educate the general public in regards to the valuable natural
resource the northern third of the lake provides and the importance of limiting
any fast- moving water activity in that area. Initially, signs will be placed at the
public access to inform and educate. Signs will also be placed on the island
shoreline declaring the area as a bird sanctuary.
3. Mayor Kim Sullivan, of Lino Lakes, will approach the sea plane operation in order
to educate the business about the heron rookery and the need to avoid the
area from a safety perspective for both the planes and the birds.
Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer
4. The Department of Natural Resources will monitor the rookery and the behavior
of the variety of nesting birds. Lakeshore owners will also monitor lake use and
rookery activity. Perhaps this fall or winter all parties can reconvene to discuss
their findings.
The residents gathered that evening seem very genuine about working together to allow
everyone the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the natural resources in and around Peltier
Lake. Hopefully, they have a better understanding of the rookery and the importance of
preserving the habitat needed to support the wildlife. Thank you again for organizing this
meeting and for guiding the discussion. Please feel free to contact us with any further
information about the water ski sub - committee. Let's hope for a wonderful summer season.
Sincerely,
Jon Oyanagi
Park Operations Manager
cc: Kim Sullivan, Mayor, City of Lino Lakes
Jim March, City Administrator, City of Centerville
Bruce Andersohn, Anoka County Sheriff
Jeff Perry, Natural Resource Specialist
John VonDelinde, Director of Parks and Recreation
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Agenda Item 6B
Environmental Board Meeting Date: January 30, 2002
Topic: Solid Waste /Recycling Report/July 1, 2001 To December 31, 2001
Summary:
The City is required to submit two annual reports each year to Anoka County
Integrated Waste. Please find attached summary tables of tonnage and costs
submitted to Anoka County for the second half of 2001. The City receives
SCORE Grant dollars based on the costs and tonnage reported.
Attachments:
1. Recycling Tonnage Report
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