An ambitious group gathered for the annual nest count in the Samish Island Heronry.  Nice day for it.

Here we go.

Most trees with nests in them have a metal tag and flagging.  Yellow is the color flagged last year - so this tree has not been counted and recorded yet.

Samish Island Heron Nest Count 

  January 09, 2016

First we get an orientation to the area and the task.

Work in groups of three or four . One person records information.

Everybody looks up to find and tally nests.

It is quite a sight.  There are about 300 nests in this area.

Take off yellow - use pink this year.

Tree number, type of tree, condition of tree, how many visible nests, notes.

A LOT of looking up.

Evidence of last year's nesting.  Birds will be coming in again in April.

Another really important monitoring job well done.  Thanks crew.