West Vancouver’s Now At Risk Pacific Blue Herons and British Columbia’s Wildlife Protection Act
Government of Canada declared our Pacific Blue Heron an “Endangered and threatened species“
“The Pacific Great Blue Heron is considered “at risk” due to factors like habitat loss from development, disturbance from human activities, and predation by Bald Eagles, particularly in British Columbia where the “fannini” subspecies is found; this has led to the designation as a “Vulnerable” species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).” (emphasis in original)
Government of Canada: Great Blue Heron
From the Wildlife Protection Act of BC:
6 (1)If the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers that a species of wildlife is threatened with imminent extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range in British Columbia because of the action of humans, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, designate the species as an endangered species.
(2)If the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers that a species of wildlife is likely to become endangered in British Columbia if the factors affecting its vulnerability are not reversed, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, designate the species as a threatened species….
…Right of action
8 The government has a right of action against a person who, without authority, destroys or damages wildlife habitat in a wildlife management area or an area set apart for wildlife management and may recover damages from the person for
(a)any money that the government spends to restore the habitat and its wildlife to its original state, or
(b)the loss of the habitat and its wildlife if restoration of the wildlife habitat is impossible.
Wildlife Protection Act of British Columbia [RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 488 …
The Great Pacific Blue Herons Were Regulars in Ambleside-Dundarave Thrilling Many Visitors
The above photo was taken on Ambleside Beach around seven years ago.
Pacific Great Blue Herons were a regular feature on the foreshore of Ambleside-Dundarave and in the trees of Ambleside Beach where they rested the path.
It was a very popular location for visitors to take photos awed by their gangly, awkward, but somehow still graceful flight, and their slow, stealth, expert fisherman way of wading in the water looking for fish.
However, as more and more people started coming to Ambleside Beach the harassment (it only takes a few) of the Blue Herons began with kids and dogs looking for something to play with, were allowed to chase them by distracted parents and unaware or unconcerned dog owners.
The Pacific Great Blue Herons are now essentially gone from the Ambleside-Dundarave foreshore with the exception of the odd sighting.
Perhaps they could still come still come back and be regulars along the seawall foreshore thrilling seawall visitors given the natural division between humans and wildlife that it provides, so long as it is respected and they are given their space.