Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) is coordinating the Annual Great Blue Heron Count on Tuesday, Aug. 16. The development coordinator and conservationist assistant for FOCI, Shannon Hogan, explains how it works.

“If people wanna help us out and participate, they can reach out to friendsofcortes@gmail.com, and I will…provide them with a recording sheet that they can print off themselves and then take down to the beach with them on the day of the count so that they can record everything that they see.”

The Executive Director of FOCI Helen Hall points out the recreational benefits of the event.

“Just find a spot on the beach and take a cup of coffee down. It's early morning and just enjoy sitting on the beach and counting whatever you see in terms of Herons.  I mean, last year, people were seeing Humpback Whales.”

The event runs from 8-10 a.m, and you can participate at any beach you would like on Cortes Island. Data from the event will be shared with ministry biologists that are monitoring the activities of Great Blue Herons. The majestic bird is considered a species at risk, according to FOCI, and their population decline demands conservationists' attention and insight.

Find out more about this community-centered conservation event and listen to the CKTZ update below: