Pacific great blue heron (Ardea herodias fannini)
This non-migratory Pacific subspecies of Great Blue Heron ranges from the coast of southeastern Alaska south to Puget Sound, Washington. They forage in large eelgrass meadows, along rivers, and in estuarine and freshwater marshes and nest in a wide-variety of tree species in close to foraging areas. Undisturbed nesting sites are important for this species. The number of fledglings raised in heron colonies with frequent disturbance is significantly lower than at colonies with no disturbance, since disturbed adult herons leave eggs and nestlings unguarded and vulnerable to predation by Bald Eagles and other birds. The Canadian Committee for the Status of Endangered Wildlife (COSEWIC) lists the Pacific Great Blue Heron as a species of special concern.