Eastside Audubon Goes Birding with Redmond City Council Members
Redmond City Council members were taken birding during a council supper break on September 10.
Attending the walk were councilmember Angie Nuevacamina, council vice president Jessica Forsythe, councilmember Osman Salahuddin, councilmember Melissa Stuart, Eastside Audubon Christmas Bird Count chair Andy McCormick, council president Vanessa Kritzer, and Lights Out Program leader Sayna Parsi.
The birding event was led by Andy McCormick, the Eastside Audubon Christmas Bird Count chair and past president, Lights Out Program Leader Sayna Parsi and EAS vice president John Spilker. The walk along the Sammamish River Trail, behind Redmond City Hall, focused on local bird species, bird migrations, the importance of conservation efforts and habitat restoration, as well as reducing light pollution.
Redmond City Council was represented by Council President Vanessa Kritzer, Vice President Jessica Forsythe, and Councilmembers Angie Nuevacamina, Osman Salahuddin, and Melissa Stuart.
Christmas Bird Count chair Andy McCormick lead the birding walk with Redmond city council.
“They gained an awareness of the chapter's goals and our interest not only in birds but also in climate change, and they said they look forward to our input on their climate plan,” McCormick said afterward.
Among the birds the participants saw were an Osprey perched behind City Hall, Mallards in the river, and some Black-capped Chickadees.
“They loved the Osprey, and they remembered that a Bald Eagle has nested in the same area. I think they appreciated our dedication to the birds and the environment,” McCormick said. “They also enjoyed seeing salmon jump in the river and made a point to go up onto the trestle to get a better look at them.”
The event was organized by Parsi. “I wanted to kick-start discussions about strengthening Redmond's existing light pollution ordinance that will impact migratory birds,” she said.
“I want our policy makers to love and care for our avian friends so their love will shape all the little decisions that they make in the future,” she added.
For more information about light pollution, see Wonders of Bird Migrations, City Lights, and How We Can Help.