The City of Kenmore should be more sensitive to the bird it uses as a symbol | Letter

Published 12:30 pm Wednesday, April 27, 2016

I don’t live in Kenmore, but for the last few years have looked forward to visiting there in the spring.

Kenmore has one of only three Great Blue Heron rookeries in this area. I am an amateur photographer and have enjoyed watching them and photographing them.

I have been very surprised and dismayed that a construction project has set up a staging area for dump trucks, heavy equipment and pipes, right underneath the nests. This has meant diesel trucks “warming up” for 5-10 minutes every morning spewing diesel fumes right up into the nests above. This combined with constant loud noises and bangs isn’t good for the Herons and could cause them to abandon their Kenmore home for good.

I visited Kenmore City Hall to voice my concerns. I was told that they had a permit so it was OK.

When I pressed that the wellbeing of the birds was at risk-somehow it was interpreted that I was complaining about being woken up.

It seems to me that the herons gracing Kenmore as their home adds something magical to the area. It seems the city agrees – with representations of herons everywhere – hanging from light poles and even artistic nests hanging from the ceiling at City Hall.

If the herons were to abandon Kenmore, it would be a great loss for the entire area. All the money in the world could not get them to return. If this work has to be done, do it responsibly. If not, people might remember who was mayor and on the City Council the year the herons left Kenmore.

If you share my view, please call the mayor and City Council members and ask them to move the trucks to a more approbate area-away from this irreplaceable asset to your community.

Steve Loper, Seattle