BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Bellingham City Council has ok’d the purchase of land around a long-time nesting site for Great Blue Herons in the Edgemoor neighborhood.
The council voted at its meeting on Monday, March 28th, to add almost 1.5 acres to property the city bought next to the Post Point water treatment facility last fall.
Mayor Seth Fleetwood read from a report about the colony prepared by the city’s wildlife biologist, who found it to be “a vital contributor to the Great Blue Heron population of the region.
“The report notes that over the proceeding 20 years, the colony has persisted in that same location supporting up to 42 nesting pairs seasonally,” said Fleetwood. “And fledged an estimated 1,000 young herons.”
The parcel’s $768,000 price will be shared the city’s general fund and Greenways IV levy fund.
The Kulshan Land Trust is kicking in $100,000 toward the purchase, and the organization will work with the city on further protections for the sensitive site.