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Paula Maxfield
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NEW RESEARCH BY AUDUBON CANYON RANCH PROMOTES THE CONSERVATION OF BAY AREA HERONS AND EGRETS

May 1, 2008 - Stinson Beach, CA - Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR), a leader in conservation science, regional habitat protection and restoration, and hands-on environmental education programs, today announced the publication of two potentially important scientific papers related to wetland conservation in the San Francisco Bay area. Both studies were led by Dr. John P. Kelly, ACR's Director of Conservation Science and Habitat Protection. who oversees programs in conservation research, ecological restoration, and natural resources management on ACR lands and associated systems, such as Tomales Bay.

In a recent issue of Waterbirds, the primary international scientific journal on colonial waterbirds, Kelly and his colleagues present an intensive account of the conservation needs of these beautiful birds, in a paper titled, "Status, Trends, and Implications for the Conservation of Heron and Egret Nesting Colonies in the San Francisco Bay Area." Based on 15 years of study, they show that the numbers of nesting herons and egrets in the region are currently stable or increasing, but they recommend that conservation efforts should prioritize the long-term protection of colony sites with more than 100 nests. The study also presents evidence that the health of regional heron and egret populations might be especially sensitive to wetland habitat conditions during winter, when degraded foraging opportunities may prevent inexperienced juveniles from finding enough food to survive. They conclude that numbers of nesting herons and egrets in some parts of the Bay Area could increase if regional planners promote the restoration of tidal marshes near existing heron and egret colony sites.

The second paper, addressing "Landscape influences on the quality of heron and egret colony sites," will be the feature article in the June issue of Wetlands, the journal of the Society of Wetland Scientists. In this study, Kelly and his team used a regional analysis of wetland habitat in northern San Francisco Bay to predict how herons and egrets select suitable colony sites for nesting. They found that the best sites for heronries are mature patches of trees within a kilometer or so of important wetland feeding areas and that, among those sites, colonies are more productive if they are surrounded by large, 300-km2 landscapes with extensive wetland areas for feeding. By using aircraft to follow the foraging flights of Great Egrets they confirmed that these birds require large expanses of healthy wetlands to feed their developing young. Their results suggest that the persistence of herons and egrets may require the protection of extensive wetland areas, with emergent vegetation interspersed with open water channels and ponds to create a viable wetland patch matrix around existing colony sites

These findings demonstrate the value of ACR's continuing scientific work on herons and egrets, which began in 1967, as an effective tool for wetland conservation. In recent years, Audubon Canyon Ranch has expanded its scientific work into other areas, including restoration ecology, invasive species, and studies of other wetland birds, to address a broad range of topics in conservation science and habitat protection.

Kelly, J. P., K. Etienne, C. Strong, M. McCaustland, and M. L. Parkes. 2007. Status, trends, and implications for the conservation of heron and egret nesting colonies in the San Francisco Bay area. Waterbirds 30: 455-478.

Kelly, J. P., D. Stralberg, K. Etienne, and M. McCaustland. 2008. Landscape influences on the quality of heron and egret colony sites. Wetlands 28: in press.

About Audubon Canyon Ranch
The mission of Audubon Canyon Ranch is to protect the natural resources of its sanctuaries while fostering an understanding and appreciation of these environments. Through ACR's preservation, education, and research programs, Audubon Canyon Ranch educates children and adults, promotes ecological literacy that is grounded in direct experience, and conducts research and restoration that advances conservation science.

Audubon Canyon Ranch properties include the Cypress Grove Research Center on Tomales Bay, the 535-acre Bouverie Preserve in Sonoma and the 1,000-acre Bolinas Lagoon Preserve in Stinson Beach, which is home to one of the San Francisco Bay Area's largest Great Egret and Great Blue Heron nesting sites.

Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR) is an independent non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status. ACR is not affiliated with the National Audubon Society. Audubon Canyon Ranch programs are made possible thanks to the contribution of thousands of hours of volunteer service, and donations from caring individuals, foundations and businesses. For more information, call (415) 868-9244, email acr@egret.org or visit www.egret.org.