PHOTO ESSAY: Great blue herons return to Stanley Park as tree clearing pauses
The birds return to nesting area next to tennis courts, while logging due to moth infestation is halted
By ENZO GALLARDO and ALY GLENN
The great blue herons have returned this spring to Stanley Park.
The herons live in the trees next to the tennis courts at Stanley Park.
The herons return to the park every spring.
Approximately 25 per cent of the park’s trees were infected, and about 20 per cent have been cleared to date.
The Vancouver Park Board is halting tree cutting, and crews are planting six diverse tree species to stabilize a looper moth infestation. The plan involves creating a resilient environment with the hopes of preventing further infestations.
Many of the trees in Stanley Park have weak roots due to drought and the moth infestation, which make them a concern for wildfires.
The degree to which herons are affected by the felling of the trees is yet be known.