Volunteers, Landowners, and the Public Help Make 2nd HERON Season a Success

[About the image above:  This great blue heron was made by my father, Sam D'Auria, out of several different hardwoods, an art form called intarsia.] As 2010 draws to a close, I’d like to take a few moments to thank all those who have helped to make the 2nd year of the Heron Observation Network a success.  To date, I’ve received data from 41 volunteers who monitored 52 great blue heron colonies in 2010.  These volunteers contributed 148.5 hours of their time to increase our understanding of the status of the great blue heron in Maine.  THANK YOU!  In addition, members of the public reported more than 13 new colonies, thereby increasing our ability to track the statewide population.  Many thanks to all the landowners who have provided staff and volunteers access to their land for the purpose of monitoring great blue heron colonies.  Not only are the landowners providing access, but they are also providing in one way or another disturbance-free habitat that is appealing to herons for nesting. I’ve enjoyed meeting and communicating with our volunteers and landowners, and look forward to additional interactions in the coming year.  There are always more colonies that need volunteer monitors and there are likely more colonies to be discovered.  If you know of a wading bird colony, please don’t hesitate to report it to me.  Or, if you’d like to join the Heron Observation Network and adopt a colony yourself, please contact me, danielle.dauria@maine.gov, (207) 941-4478. Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year!