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Jess. ( Lady.D.) | all galleries >> Galleries >> Island Life June 2008 > All Gone
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Lady D.

All Gone

This image was taken last year when I visited the wonderful Heronry in Beacon Hill Park. This year there are no GBHs nesting at this site. This is what happened shortly after my visit last May.
They called her Birdzilla. During one weekend last year, a elderly female eagle bullied more than a hundred nesting herons in Beacon Hill Park from their rookery. Conservatively estimates are that the eagle ate 39 chicks and at least 187 eggs. The herons have not returned to the rookery to nest this year. When we were down last weekend the heronry was abandoned, not one GBH has returned to this large ( over 80 nests) nesting site in downtown Victoria. I was heartbroken.

View my images from last year

Beacon Hill Park Heronry




Canon EOS 350D ,Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
1/1250s f/7.1 at 420.0mm iso400
full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
comment
Marco Valk05-Jul-2008 20:59
It's weird that nature can be beautiful and cruel at the same time; great shot. v
Marcia Colelli05-Jul-2008 13:37
beautiful capture V
Jean D05-Jul-2008 02:04
Beautiful capture, Jess! A very sad and cruel happening, last year! ~V~
john savage05-Jul-2008 00:53
Great image Jess, wow, nature can be cruel for sure. V
Simon Chandler04-Jul-2008 23:46
So sad. Glad that you have captured this marvelous image for memory and to share with us. v
Tom Munson04-Jul-2008 23:41
Terrific image, Jess. That's terrible that one eagle could decimate the entire rookery.
routerer04-Jul-2008 23:38
That's a sad tale Jess, I hope the herons have moved to safer territory.
john.
Guest 04-Jul-2008 23:37
Excellent Shot V