This file includes the spatial boundaries for the Pacific Great Blue Heron Potential Area of Occupancy for its entire Canadian range. The Potential Area of Occupancy is a simple model that highlights the heron's preferred forest habitat at a high level.
Potential Area of Occupancy is defined as terrestrial areas within the Coastal Douglas Fir and Coastal Western Hemlock Biogeoclimatic zones that are less than 10 km from a potential foraging area and west of the Cascades mountain range. Potential foraging areas are defined as the entire coastline and major river systems less than 1000 m in elevation.
Refer to the "Management Plan for the Great Blue Heron fannini subspecies (Ardea herodias fannini) in Canada" on the SARA Regristry for more information.
The Great Blue Heron fannini subspecies (Ardea herodias fannini, also known as the Pacific Great Blue Heron) has been assessed as a species of Special Concern in Canada (COSEWIC 2008) and has been listed on Schedule 1 of the federal Species at Risk Act since 2010. Canada holds approximately half the global population of the Pacific Great Blue Heron.