Herons Forever News

Updated 4-23-2008

Black River Anomaly

(Submitted by Mike Hamilton, volunteer photographer for Herons Forever)

First of all, the herons of Black River are still there, at least a fair number. The trees are leafing out but it is still possible to see into some nests. There were also birds in the air now and then, some with sticks. All in all, business as usual for the herons.

…Now, the anomaly. A fellow photographer there pointed out to us an eagle in the forest, very near the colony. Last year this often meant trouble on the way. The eagle was there preening a half hour or so. Also, it was wet, either from rain or a dive or just a bath. At any rate, after awhile it left and circled over the Black River meadow, obviously hunting, then circled over the heron nests a couple of times, then left in the general direction of Lake Washington. At no time did the herons give any reaction to any of this.

I can't help but recall another volunteer’s account a couple of weeks ago of herons successfully defending their nests by physically attacking a predating eagle. I wonder if that and perhaps other such defenses have discouraged the eagles to some extent. 

Other notes:  Goslings are in the works. Their nest is on one of the island in the pond.  And one of our volunteers thinks she saw green-winged teal ducklings.

Status of rezone request submitted by the developer last year

The developer’s request to rezone two parcels on the hillside overlooking the colony was approved by the City of Renton in December 2007.

The parcels were rezoned to Residential--Medium Density, changed from a combination of Multi-Family and Heavy Industrial.

Herons Forever advocated for the lowest possible density in order to protect the colony.

The developer has not submitted a proposal to develop these parcels as of yet. If you see a notice posted along Sunset Way (MLK Way) above the colony, please let us know right away! Click the Contact Us link on this page or send an email to  szkrom@drizzle.com.

Suzanne Krom's comments

Herons Forever's expert's comments

Timeline for heron colony

We will keep you informed as we learn more. Stay tuned... 

Introduction to Herons Forever and the Black River heron colony

Herons Forever is a Puget Sound-based all-volunteer nonprofit organization. We are the only group dedicated solely to the protection of Renton’s Black River great blue heron colony, the largest in the tri-county region and one of the largest in Washington state. In 2006, the colony consisted of at least 121 active nests, and produced more than 300 fledglings. (fledgling: A young bird that has taken its first flight.)

Bird-lover and conservationist Suzanne Krom founded the organization in 1989 in order to protect the colony from the impacts of nearby development. She continues to lead the now-600 member organization as president. Thousands of people have helped make Herons Forever’s efforts successful by contributing their time and resources. (Click the About Us link in left margin.)

The colony is in Renton, just west of the intersection of SW 7th and Oaksdale SW, at a junction of the old Black River and Springbrook Creek. The P1 Pond was dredged in 1985, and the next spring six great blue herons built three nests overlooking the same pond they have continued to choose as their breeding location ever since. This year, 2007, marks their 22nd year at Black River. (Scroll for History of Black River.)

Our herons belong to a unique subspecies that does not exist anywhere else. The fannini heron does not migrate, which is the primary difference between these herons and all the others in the United States. Biologists are concerned about the long-term health of the fannini population as their numbers are declining at an estimated 6% per year. (Click The Great Blue Heron link in left margin to learn more.)

History of the Black River

The Black River Riparian Forest is named in memory of the river that used to flow through the area where the herons now nest.

The Black River ran out of the southern end of Lake Washington. It flowed south through Renton, and then veered west and merged with the Green River to form the Duwamish River.

In 1916, the lowering of Seattle's Lake Washington during the construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal drained the Black River and caused it to dry up.

For more information and photos, click here.

Duwamish Tribe

The Duwamish tribe had a village located along the Black River for at least 1,400 years and perhaps for thousands of years. The Duwamish were still there in 1916 when the river dried up.

In the early 1990s, anthropologist Jim Chatters conducted an excavation near the Black River Riparian Forest. Over 100 boxes of Duwamish tribal artifacts are stored with the University of Washington's Burke Museum from that dig.

The Duwamish, including Chief Sealth (178?-1866), for whom Seattle is named, were among the signers of the Point Elliott treaty. The treaty guaranteed both fishing rights and reservations, neither of which the Duwamish have today.  For more information, click here.