UPDATE: Heron Protection Society concerned trespassers, rezoning application could affect bird habitat

UPDATE Feb. 13

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has taken action to protect the Great Blue Heron population that nests in the north part of Vernon.

Chair Akbal Mund tells Vernon Matters, after hearing from a delegation at Wednesday’s meeting, the directors went in-camera and decided to approve the six new ‘no trespassing’ signs requested by the Vernon Heron Protection Society.

Members of the society told the committee, the signs put up 26 years ago have deteriorated or gone missing and they are concerned about trespassers, including people with addictions problems, bothering the birds.

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Original story:

The North Okanagan Okanagan Regional District is being asked to provide six new ‘no trespassing’ signs around Vernon’s Great Blue Heron grove between 20th and 24th streets in the north end.

Members of the Vernon Heron Protection Society say the signs posted 26 years ago have deteriorated or gone missing and they are concerned about trespassers bothering the birds.

“We are having difficulty keeping individuals with addiction problems off the property,” stated a report presented to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee Wednesday. “These trespassers are a huge risk to the heronry and the surrounding structures (retirement residences and businesses) during fire season.”

The society also repeated concerns, expressed to Vernon city council last summer, about a possible multi-level housing development bordering the heronry.

On July 8, 2019, Vernon councillors gave third reading to a rezoning application that will enable construction to move forward, the society said.

“We are concerned because: twice before, when development occurred beside the heronry, many of the environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in British Columbia were completely ignored, putting the herons at great risk,” the report said. “The fields beside the property that has been re-zoned is used by the herons at very vulnerable times.

“They collect grasses, sticks and twigs from this field throughout their nesting period. Food found here helps nourish them when they need ‘fast food’ pick me ups. This is a vital convenience.”

The big birds have nested on the private land, owned by Rita Bos who heads the society, for 32 years.

Great Blue Herons are a blue-listed species of special concern and are considered vulnerable to disturbance by humans, bald eagles, hawks and great horned owls.

It’s hoped the birds will continue to nest on the 7.9 acre property until black cottonwood trees planted for them at Swan Lake Nature Reserve grow large enough to house them.