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49-686: The only eligibility requirements for membership is that the program be located within USRowing's northwest region, and that member programs be from NCAA Division II or Division III programs. In addition, each program must maintain a commitment to the constitution and bylaws. Member programs may be either varsity or club status within their respective institutional setting. The Conference hosts two major regattas each year. The NCRC Invite takes place during late-March on Vancouver Lake , Washington and has welcomed non-conference members from California, Oregon, and Washington. Conference championships are annually held

98-455: A color morph of the great blue heron, a subspecies of it, or an entirely separate species. The great blue heron was one of the many species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his 18th-century work, Systema Naturae . The scientific name comes from Latin ardea , and Ancient Greek ἐρῳδιός ( erōdios ), both meaning "heron". The great blue heron's niche in the Old World

147-691: A vagrant in England, Greenland , Hawaii , and the Azores . The great white heron is unique to South Florida, including Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge in the Florida Keys. The primary food for the great blue heron is fish . While they can prey on various sizes of fish from small fingerlings to large adult fish, measuring 60 cm (24 in) in length and weighing around 900 g (2.0 lb), small to medium-sized fish around 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) are usually preferred. Primary prey fish

196-464: A breeding colony, the colony can sometimes be abandoned by the other birds. The primary source of disturbance and breeding failures at heronries is human activities, mostly through human recreation or habitat destruction , as well as by egg-collectors and hunters. John James Audubon illustrates the great blue heron in Birds of America , Second Edition (published, London 1827–1838) as Plate 161. The image

245-436: A lake in this location continuously going back at least 4000 years. Vancouver Lake is home to a variety of wildlife species, many of which it shares with the nearby Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge . Descriptions from the late 19th century describe Vancouver Lake as clear, up to 20 ft (6.1 m) deep and containing sturgeon . Current turbidity, more shallow depths and a lack of aquatic plant structures have diminished

294-423: A large goliath heron. Notable features of great blue herons include slaty (gray with a slight azure blue) flight feathers , red-brown thighs, and a paired red-brown and black stripe up the flanks; the neck is rusty-gray, with black and white streaking down the front; the head is paler, with a nearly white face, and a pair of black or slate plumes runs from just above the eye to the back of the head. The feathers on

343-409: A possible resource in flood control . Suburbanization of its watershed area led to an increase in water pollution . Surface runoff brought increased sediment while residential drain fields and increased use of fertilizers rich in nitrogen and phosphorus contributed to eutrophication . DDT was also used for mosquito control until its effects on fish and birds became apparent, and

392-469: A single breeding season, individuals usually choose new mates each year. Males arrive at colonies first and settle on nests, where they court females; most males choose a different nest each year. Great blue herons build a bulky stick nest . Nests are usually around 50 cm (20 in) across when first constructed, but can grow to more than 120 cm (47 in) in width and 90 cm (35 in) deep with repeated use and additional construction. If

441-465: A total lack of pigment in its plumage. It averages somewhat larger than the sympatric race A. h. wardi and may be the largest race in the species. In a survey of A. h. occidentalis in Florida, males were found to average 3.02 kg (6.7 lb) and females average 2.57 kg (5.7 lb), with a range for both sexes of 2.0 to 3.4 kg (4.4 to 7.5 lb). This is mainly found near salt water, and

490-488: A track, the front toes, as well as the back, often show the small talons. The subspecies differ only slightly in size and plumage tone, with the exception of A. h. occidentalis , native to South Florida, which also has a distinct white morph , known as the great white heron (not to be confused with the great egret , for which "great white heron" was once a common name). The great white heron differs from other great blues in bill morphology, head plume length, and in having

539-650: A wide variety of birds, including large species such as great blue herons , osprey and bald eagles . It is within the Pacific Flyway . Large mammals on its banks include raccoons , a few black-tailed deer and an occasional coyote . Vancouver Lake was referenced in Lewis and Clark's journal entries from November 4, 1805 ( v. 6, 17 ). Shortly after the lake was deeded to the Port of Vancouver, Washington, in 1919, agricultural interests proposed draining it , (A smaller lake to

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588-649: A wingspan of 167–201 cm (66–79 in), a height of 115–138 cm (45–54 in), and a weight of 1.82–3.6 kg (4.0–7.9 lb). In British Columbia , adult males averaged 2.48 kg (5.5 lb) and adult females 2.11 kg (4.7 lb). In Nova Scotia and New England , adult herons of both sexes averaged 2.23 kg (4.9 lb), while in Oregon , both sexes averaged 2.09 kg (4.6 lb) Thus, great blue herons are roughly twice as heavy as great egrets ( Ardea alba ), although only slightly taller than them, but they weigh only about half as much as

637-522: Is a high school and master aged rowing club that uses the lake as its primary practice facility. Along with rowing, kayaking, canoeing, and dragon boating are also popular activities hosted by Vancouver Lake Crew. On the opposite East shore sits the Vancouver Lake Sailing Club where sailboats can be launched, with opportunities for sailing education and racing. In 2017, lake users noticed an increasing level of Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) in

686-442: Is a single report that a large bobcat ( Lynx rufus ) managed to subdue and kill an adult great blue heron. Using its considerable size and dagger-like bill, a full-grown heron can be a formidable foe to a predator. In one instance, during an act of attempted predation by a golden eagle, a heron was able to mortally wound the eagle, although it succumbed to injuries sustained in the fight. When predation on an adult or chick occurs at

735-465: Is filled by the congeneric grey heron ( Ardea cinerea ), which is somewhat smaller (90–98 cm (35–39 in)), and sports a pale gray neck and legs, lacking the brown hues of the great blue heron. The great blue heron forms a superspecies with the grey heron which also includes the cocoi heron of South America, which differs in having more extensive black on the head and a white breast and neck. The five subspecies are: The great blue heron

784-400: Is quite adaptable and may be seen in heavily developed areas as long as they hold bodies of fish-bearing water. Great blue herons rarely venture far from bodies of water, but are occasionally seen flying over upland areas. They usually nest in trees or bushes near water's edge, often on islands (which minimizes the potential for predation) or partially isolated spots. It has been recorded as

833-412: Is targeted to EWM, but non-toxic to humans, fish, and wildlife. While environmental conditions prevented a treatment in 2019, Vancouver Lake and its flushing channel were treated with ProcellaCOR July 7, 2020. Post-treatment surveys several weeks later showed no trace of EWM in the lake or flushing channel. Great blue heron The great blue heron ( Ardea herodias ) is a large wading bird in

882-409: Is the largest heron native to North America. Among all extant herons, it is surpassed in size only by the goliath heron ( Ardea goliath ) and the white-bellied heron ( Ardea insignis ). It exhibits a minor degree of sexual dimorphism ; males are slightly larger than females, but otherwise the sexes are not easily outwardly distinguishable. It has head-to-tail length of 91–137 cm (36–54 in),

931-575: Is too large. They are generally solitary feeders. Individuals usually forage while standing in water, but also feed in fields or drop from the air, or perch, into water. Mice are occasionally preyed on in upland areas far from the species' typical aquatic environments. Occasionally, loose flocks gather to feed, and may be beneficial since they are able to locate schools of fish more easily. As large wading birds, great blue herons are capable of feeding in deeper waters, thus are able to harvest from niche areas not open to most other heron species. Typically,

980-652: Is usually relatively close, usually within 4 to 5 km (2.5 to 3.1 mi), to ideal feeding spots. Heronry sites are usually difficult to reach on foot (e.g., islands, trees in swamps, high branches, etc.) to protect from potential mammalian predators. Trees of any type are used when available. When not, herons may nest on the ground, sagebrush, cacti, channel markers, artificial platforms, beaver mounds, and duck blinds. Other waterbirds (especially smaller herons) and, occasionally, even fish and mammal-eating raptors may nest amongst colonies. Although nests are often reused for many years and herons are socially monogamous within

1029-1014: Is variable based on availability and abundance. In Nova Scotia , 98% of the diet was flounder . In British Columbia , the primary prey species are sticklebacks , gunnels , sculpins , and perch . California herons were found to live mostly on sculpin, bass , perch , flounder , and top smelt . Besides fish, it is also known to feed on a wide range of prey opportunistically. Amphibians such as leopard frogs , American bullfrogs , toads and salamanders are readily taken, as well as reptiles such as small turtles , snakes and lizards . They can take on sizeable snakes, including water snakes 105 cm (41 in) in length. Aquatic crustaceans (such as crayfish , shrimp and crabs ), grasshoppers , dragonflies and aquatic insects are taken as supplementary prey. They also prey on small mammals including shrews , rats , ground squirrels , and moles . One study in Idaho showed that from 24 to 40% of

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1078-510: The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge . The lake is shallow, with a maximum depth of 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 m) and a mean depth of less than 3 feet (0.9 m). There is an island in the northern half of the lake named Turtle Island. The island was formed from the tailings of an Army Corps of Engineers dredging project, which dredged around the perimeter of the lake in the early 1980s. Lake River flows from

1127-610: The heron family Ardeidae , common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America, as well as far northwestern South America, the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands . It is occasionally found in the Azores and is a rare vagrant to Europe. An all-white population found in south Florida and the Florida Keys is known as the great white heron . Debate exists about whether these white birds are

1176-608: The Southern United States southwards, and on the lower Pacific coast , they are year-round residents. However, their hardiness is such that individuals often remain through cold northern winters, as well, so long as fish-bearing waters remain unfrozen (which may be the case only in flowing water such as streams, creeks, and rivers). The great blue heron can adapt to almost any wetland habitat in its range. It may be found in numbers in fresh and saltwater marshes , mangrove swamps, flooded meadows, lake edges, or shorelines . It

1225-417: The bill is dull gray-yellow. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 43–49.2 cm (16.9–19.4 in), the tail is 15.2–19.5 cm (6.0–7.7 in), the culmen is 12.3–15.2 cm (4.8–6.0 in), and the tarsus is 15.7–21 cm (6.2–8.3 in). The heron's stride is around 22 cm (8.7 in), almost in a straight line. Two of the three front toes are generally closer together. In

1274-455: The closely related and similarly sized cocoi heron ( A. cocoi ). The cocoi is distinguished by a striking white neck and solid black crown, but the duller juveniles are more easily confused. More superficially similar is the slightly smaller grey heron, which may sometimes appear as vagrants on the northern coasts of North America. The grey heron (which occupies the same ecological niche in Eurasia as

1323-432: The county discontinued it. A 2005 report showed higher than normal levels of various contaminants in the lake's fish. Since then, there have been various interests in the area as it relates to habitat preservation , recreation and industry, culminating in the "Habitek" plan of the mid-1980s and the multi-agency Burnt Bridge Creek Watershed Plan of 1995. Algal bloom has been an intermittent problem for recreational use of

1372-557: The course of the ensuing winter. Young herons are not as successful at fish capture as adults, as strike rates are similar, but capture rates are about half that of adults during the first two months after fledging. Predators of eggs and nestlings include turkey vultures ( Cathartes aura ), common ravens ( Corvus corax ), and American crows ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ). Red-tailed hawks ( Buteo jamaicensis ), American black bears ( Ursus americanus ), and raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) are known to take larger nestlings or fledglings, and in

1421-639: The diet was made up of voles . Remains of muskrats ( Ondatra zibethicus ) and long-tailed weasels ( Mustela frenata ) was also found in pellets during the study. There are reports that great blue heron prey on both young and adults of eastern cottontails ( Sylvilagus floridanus ). Though not often, birds such as black rails ( Laterallus jamaicensis ), phalaropes , American dippers ( Cinclus mexicanus ), pied-billed grebes ( Podilymbus podiceps ) and chicks of marsh terns ( Chlidonias ) are also taken. Herons locate their food by sight and usually swallow it whole. They have been known to choke on prey that

1470-555: The eastern shoreline, which winds about ten miles (sixteen kilometres) through many of the city's residential areas. Until the 1980s, this creek was neglected and a major source of pollution for the lake. Lower River Road leads west out of Vancouver to a park on the shore of Vancouver Lake which includes a large swimming area. A trail leads to Frenchman's Bar Park on the nearby Columbia River. A study published in 2014 by Curt D.Peterson, et al, PSU Dept of Geology, includes results from multiple core samples which demonstrate there's been

1519-410: The great blue heron feeds in shallow waters, usually less than 50 cm (20 in) deep, or at the water's edge during both the night and the day, but especially around dawn and dusk. The most commonly employed hunting technique of the species is wading slowly with its long legs through shallow water and quickly spearing fish or frogs with its long, sharp bill. Although usually ponderous in movements,

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1568-406: The great blue heron is adaptable in its fishing methods. Feeding behaviors variably have consisted of standing in one place, probing, pecking, walking at slow speeds, moving quickly, flying short distances and alighting, hovering over the water and picking up prey, diving headfirst into the water, alighting on water feet-first, jumping from perches feet-first, and swimming or floating on the surface of

1617-432: The great blue heron) has very similar plumage, but has a solidly soft-gray neck. Erroneously, the great blue heron is sometimes referred to as a "crane". Herons and cranes are easiest to differentiate in flight; cranes hold their necks straight when flying, but herons bend theirs into an S shape. The great blue heron is found throughout most of North America, as far north as Alaska and the southern Canadian provinces in

1666-438: The great egret ( Ardea alba ), but is larger, with yellow legs as opposed to the great egret's black legs. The reddish egret ( Egretta rufescens ) and little blue heron ( Egretta caerulea ) could be mistaken for the great blue heron, but are much smaller, and lack white on the head and yellow in the bill. At the southernmost extent of its range (e.g., Colombia and Panama ), the great blue heron sometimes overlaps in range with

1715-508: The lake (officially recognized by the county in 2003) since cyanobacteria such as Anabaena , Microcystis aeruginosa and Cylindrospermopsin raciborskii may produce neurotoxins such as cylindrospermopsin . The Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership was formed in October 2004, bringing various public agencies with interest and jurisdiction together. Vancouver Lake plays host to two water sport oriented recreation clubs. Vancouver Lake Crew

1764-557: The lake. In late 2018, concerned citizens joined forces with local and state agencies to assess the EWM infestation. In early 2019, local volunteers formed a 501c(3) non-profit, Friends of Vancouver Lake . Working with the Vancouver Lake Crew, Vancouver Lake Sailing Club, and hundreds of concerned community members, they secured a Washington State permit to treat the lake with a newly-approved herbicide, ProcellaCOR. This fast-acting herbicide

1813-539: The latter predator, many eggs. In exceptional case, a young Harris's hawk ( Parabuteo unicinctus ) killed a subadult great blue heron. Adult herons have few natural predators and are rarely preyed upon due to their large size and sharp beak, but bald eagles ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) are known to attack great blue herons at every stage of their lifecycle from in the egg to adulthood. And less frequently, golden eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos ) and great horned owls ( Bubo virginianus ) are known to take adults. There

1862-430: The lower neck are long and plume-like; it also has plumes on the lower back at the start of the breeding season. The bill is dull yellowish, becoming orange briefly at the start of the breeding season, and the lower legs are gray, also becoming orangey at the start of the breeding season. Immature birds are duller in color, with a dull blackish-gray crown, and the flank pattern is only weakly defined; they have no plumes, and

1911-721: The nest is abandoned or destroyed, the female may lay a replacement clutch . Reproduction is negatively affected by human disturbance, particularly during the beginning of nesting. Repeated human intrusion into nesting areas often results in nest failure, with abandonment of eggs or chicks. However, Vancouver B.C. Canada's Stanley Park has had a healthy colony for some years right near its main entrance and tennis courts adjacent to English Bay and not far from Lost Lagoon. The park's colony has had as many as 183 nests. The female lays three to six pale blue eggs , which can measure from 50.7 to 76.5 mm (2.00 to 3.01 in) in length and 29 to 50.5 mm (1.14 to 1.99 in) in width, though

1960-484: The north shore to the Columbia River near Ridgefield. Due to seasonal variation in relative river and lake levels, Lake River experiences intermittent flow reversal and flows into Vancouver Lake for considerable periods of time. The sources for Vancouver Lake's water include a flushing channel (equipped with tidal gates to control flows) from the Columbia River near the southwest shoreline and Burnt Bridge Creek on

2009-466: The north, Shillapoo Lake, was drained and used for agriculture) but by the end of the 1920s, recreational uses were also considered. Because of cold weather, the lake was frozen solid to "several inches" in depth on February 10, 1929, and was home to 500 ice skaters one weekend. The lake was briefly considered as a decommissioning harbor in 1945, but after the Memorial Day flood of 1948 was also seen as

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2058-535: The remainder of each day and the night, with eggs left without incubation for about 6 minutes of each hour. The first chick to hatch usually becomes more experienced in food handling and aggressive interactions with siblings, so it often grows more quickly than the other chicks. Both parents feed the young at the nest by regurgitating food. Parent birds have been shown to consume up to four times as much food when they are feeding young chicks (about 4300 kJ/day) than when laying or incubating eggs (about 1200 kJ/day). By

2107-472: The smallest eggs in the above sample may have been considered "runt eggs" too small to produce viable young. Egg weights range from 61 to 80 g (2.2 to 2.8 oz). One brood is raised each year. First broods are laid generally from March to April. Eggs are usually laid at two-day intervals, incubated around 27 days, and hatch asynchronously over a period of several days. Males incubate for about 10.5 hours of each day, while females usually incubate for

2156-635: The summer. In winter, the range extends south through Florida , Mexico , and the Caribbean to far northwestern South America (regular in Colombia and Venezuela, accidental elsewhere in South America). Birds east of the Rocky Mountains in the northern part of their range are migratory and winter in the coastal areas of the Southern United States , Central America, or northern South America. From

2205-687: The third weekend of April at the Cascade Sprints Regatta on Lake Stevens , Washington. Each year the Conference Champion is recognized based on team points received at the Championship Regatta at Lake Stevens WA or Dexter Lake OR. Vancouver Lake Vancouver Lake is located just west of Vancouver, Washington , United States, north of the Columbia River and Portland, Oregon , south of Ridgefield, Washington , and

2254-417: The time they are 45 days old, the young weigh 86% of the adult's mass. After about 55 days at the northern edge of the range (Alberta) and 80 days at the southern edge of the range (California), young herons take their first flight. They return to the nest to be fed for about another three weeks, following adults back from foraging grounds, and are likely to gradually disperse away from their original nest over

2303-540: The variety of species and more recent surveys showed the most abundant fish by mass were brown bullhead , white crappie , black crappie, and common carp , with a few juvenile salmonids and a population of channel catfish , largemouth bass , bluegill , pumpkinseed , yellow perch , naturalized goldfish , northern pikeminnow , American shad , mosquito fish , largescale sucker , and freshwater sculpin . Rich fringe environments provide habitat for amphibians such as tree frogs , reptiles such as garter snakes and

2352-594: The water. This species usually breeds in colonies , in trees close to lakes or other wetlands. Adults generally return to the colony site after winter from December (in warmer climes such as California and Florida) to March (in cooler areas such as Canada). Usually, colonies include only great blue herons, though sometimes they nest alongside other species of herons. These groups are called a heronry (a more specific term than " rookery "). The size of these colonies may be large, ranging between five and 500 nests per colony, with an average around 160 nests per colony. A heronry

2401-412: Was long thought to be a separate species. Birds intermediate between the normal morph and the white morph are known as Würdemann's heron; these birds resemble a "normal" great blue with a white head. The theory that great white herons may be a separate species ( A. occidentalis ) from the great blue heron has again been given some support by David Sibley . The "great white heron" could be confused with

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