For this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day of Service, getting down and dirty is what Heron Habitat Helpers (HHH) is all about.

HHH is committed to restoring and protecting natural vegetation in the Kiwanis Memorial Preserve Park, Natural Area, and Wildlife Corridor, also simply known as the Kiwanis Ravine. The ravine is located near Discovery Park.

According to the HHH Web site, Seattle’s largest active colony of the great blue heron resides in the Kiwanis Ravine. The great blue heron, also the official bird of Seattle, returns to its nest yearly in February to search for mates. In 2001, there were 35 nests at the Kiwanis Ravine, and 28 of them produced 70 chicks in all.

For the Day of Service, HHH will clear out non-native and invasive species of plants and animals to maintain the habitat of herons, project leader Robin Pfaff said.

The invasive species include the Himalayan blackberry, ivy, knotweed and morning glory, said Richard Lassman, of HHH.

“The herons are very sensitive to disturbances in their habitat,” Pfaff said. “This group tries to keep the habitat nice for the herons to nest in every year.”

Since herons are sensitive to disturbances, the HHH Web site advises people not to enter the ravine during the nesting season.

Activities for the group include planting, weeding and mulching at the Kiwanis Ravine.

“The herons are a fish-eating bird,” he said. “They have to fight off the eagles for food. … Crows are the same.”

Pfaff said people who like to be outdoors should volunteer.

“You gotta love mud and have the enthusiasm to work,” she said.

Seven spots are still open, and HHH volunteer coordinator Gail Lassman said students can register through the United Way of King County Web site.

“We have been amazed by the enthusiasm and hard work of students who attend,” she said. “We have had a lot of students who help us out. This will be our third year as a part of the UW MLK Day of Service; the first year there were 60 students who volunteered, and the second year there were 45.”

The MLK Day of Service is also the largest event for the HHH, she said.

“I think the students are the hardest working group of volunteers,” she said. “They actually save us a lot of money. The year when we had 60 volunteers they were able to do so much that we didn’t have to hire anyone to do it for us.”

Volunteers in the past have included administrators, fraternities, medical students, professors and athletic coaches, she said.

At the MLK Day of Service, volunteers will be treated to Starbucks, food, “Heron” Jeopardy and prizes.

“It will be great fun,” Pfaff said. “Hopefully it’ll be sunny that day so we won’t have to muck around the mud too much.”

[Reach reporter Kim Lee at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]