Campbell River resident Joy Cote has been able to watch two families of Great Blue Herons grow before her eyes.

The herons' nests are found along Campbell River's waterfront (precise location is being kept quiet). One of the nests has four chicks while the other has three or four (the view of the nest partially obscured).

"I started taking pictures of them when we moved here last year from my balcony with a 600mm lens," Cote says. "The nests were empty last year, so this year has been amazing to watch. My neighbours and I were so excited to see the nests in use. At first the chicks looked like punk rockers. They seem to grow overnight. We are now, anxiously, awaiting their first flight. We watch with a bit of fear as the eagles and vultures fly around.

"It warms my heart to see that in the fourth or fifth largest city on the Island, I can sit on my balcony, with highway traffic going by, and watch the amazing life around us, hear the chicks 'talking' and watch the 'family' dynamics, with at least four adults in the trees, seeming to stand guard."

The accompanying picture shows one nest taken on Aug. 8. Cote says everyone raves about the eagles and whales that can be seen around Campbell River but she points out that there's a lot more than that to see.

"Even in this growing city, we have a diverse natural habitat," Cote says.