Flowers and Missing Herons

Thursday was a cold rainy morning with promised sun in the afternoon. A good time to hoof it around Pre’s Trail and Alton Baker Park to check on the nesting herons. Started around 11:30 and returned by 3:00. Wore wind-shell the entire time and used an umbrella once. That promised sun was just one of the micro-climates that rolled across the valley; it went from cold wet to hot sunny within 10 minutes several times.

Surprisingly, most of the herons are gone … literally not there. From Autzen to the boat ramp on Pres Trail, I saw 3 herons, and the last time there were more than 10. The new nests were abandoned, and the old nest area had 1 nest with residents. Very strange … the nests in Alton Baker Park were still abandoned. These were the only nesting pair seen.

Other birds were everywhere and almost all were in pairs – must be spring… The wood ducks were all decked-out!

The flowers didn’t hold back either

The mystery of the missing herons needs a follow up with the Parks and even Oregon Fish & Wildlife. One scenario is that all the resident, non-migrating geese shared their Bird Flu with the Herons. Herons seem to be way more at risk from the Flu and geese can carry without symptoms.

Another day to remind us that walking out the door and just ‘looking’ can be a wonderful experience!