Now in its ninth year, Vancouver's heron cam is back for all those looking to peek in on the huge birds and their little chicks.
The great blue herons are once again nesting in Stanley Park, according to a press release, and the colony in the trees above Park Lane near the tennis courts is already active.
"Pacific great blue herons were first documented in Stanley Park in 1921. Since then, the colony has changed nesting locations several times before settling in its current location in 2001," says the parks board in the release. "Vancouver is proudly one of North America’s largest urban heron colonies."
For more than 20 years herons have been building homes in the trees near the tennis courts and raising their young. Last year 61 fledglings were spotted, despite winter delays and eagle raids, according to the parks board.
"Throughout these challenges, this heron colony has proven to be above all else, resilient," reads the release. "With 80 per cent of British Columbia’s great blue heron population found in and around the Fraser River, the productivity of this heronry has significant implications for the viability of the whole subspecies."
Great blue herons can be spotted across North America, but the Pacific subspecies (found from Alaska to Washington) is considered of special concern in Canada.
Heron cam provides 'the ultimate close-up'
Those hoping to watch the heron families from courtship to chick can check out the city's heron cam, which is live now.
"Now in its ninth year, the heron cam provides the ultimate close-up view of this remarkable species as they go about their daily rituals, including courtship and mating, nest building, egg laying, and of course, hatching," states the parks board.
"Viewers can access a birds-eye view of 40 nests and even take control of the camera by zooming in on multiple nests, using different angles."
The heron cam page also has information and footage from the different behaviours of the birds, including courtship, parenting, and nest building.
