Two youths from Youth and Ecological Restoration Program (YER) will lead a public tour about the eagle and heron surveys on June 9 at 1 p.m at the Royston Seaside Trail.
K’omoks Estuary holds immense ecological value for resident and migrating wildlife, and is essential for K’omoks First Nation. Since 2013, research during spring low tides has been conducted to count eagles and herons feeding in the estuary.
In 2013 and 2014, YER partnered with MARS Wildlife Rescue to document herons and their foraging behaviour. YER has continued these observations from a Royston Seaside Trail location to learn about the estuary as a feeding area for herons and other species.
This YER Phase Two project brings together the ten years of observations. It is funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development and Comox Valley Regional District. The researchers are: YER II participants, Cy Fitzgerald and Hope Kopeck; YER co-ordinator Wendy Kotilla; and registered professional biologist, Tanis Gower.
The Royston Seaside Trail is located south of Courtenay; turn left onto Hilton Road and drive down to the parking area at the beach. For more information, contact Wendy Kotilla at wkotilla@shaw.ca or 250-336-8487; visit the YER website at www.youthecology.ca.
