Bellingham Names Great Blue Heron Official City Bird
The selection concludes a public voting process held during the city's annual Bird Week celebration.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Bird Watching
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Bellingham residents have officially selected the Great Blue Heron as the city's representative bird. Mayor Kim Lund announced the choice following a public vote on ten finalists.
Why it matters
The designation highlights local environmental efforts to preserve habitats for the species, which are recognized as Washington State Priority Areas. This formal recognition aims to increase community awareness about the importance of protecting local nesting grounds.
The city selection process narrowed a list down to 10 nominees before the public reached a final decision. Residents are advised to maintain a minimum distance of 200 feet from heron colonies to avoid disturbing the birds.
The players
Kim Lund
Kim Lund is the Mayor of Bellingham who oversaw the inauguration of the city bird.
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird now serving as the official city bird of Bellingham.
The details
Following a nomination period in September and a final vote during Bird Week, the Great Blue Heron was inaugurated as the city bird at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The city emphasizes the need to limit noise and avoid flying drones near known nesting locations like Post Point and Little Squalicum Park.
Timeline
Nominations for the official city bird were gathered throughout September 2026.
Ten nominees were selected for the public vote during October 2026.
Mayor Kim Lund announced the selected bird on October 9, 2026.
Culture Shift
The formal adoption of a local species into the city identity mirrors a growing focus on civic conservation and the protection of regional biodiversity. This move follows a national trend of municipalities utilizing local wildlife designations to anchor community-wide habitat protection initiatives.
Residents are encouraged to support the newly designated bird by minimizing noise and avoiding drone flights near active nesting sites. When visiting spotting areas like Little Squalicum Park, observers should adhere to the 200-foot distance guideline to ensure the safety of the colony.
The takeaway
Designating the Great Blue Heron as the official bird serves as a reminder of the unique wildlife present within city limits. Residents should observe these birds from a distance to ensure the continued health of the local heron population.
Further reading
Learn more about local avian populations and conservation efforts in the Bird Watching section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by My Bellingham Now -.
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