The Hamster Wheel
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🐹 Birders of a Feather 🦅🦅

🐹 Birders of a Feather 🦅🦅

February 14, 2025

Good morning, Bellingham. This is your Friday update from The Hamster Wheel.

Phew! Another week in the history books. The kids finally got in a whole week at school, and we didn’t miss a single wrestling or swim practice. The small victories!

Which reminds me… The High School Girls District Wrestling Tournament is at Squalicum HS on Saturday. We've been trying to catch as many of the boys' and girls' high school matches as possible this year. Watching these kids give it their all on the mat is inspiring. The tournament is an all-day event, so swing by and cheer for our local high school athletes if you’re a wrestling fan. 🤼‍♀️

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Lake Padden Moonrise - 📷 by Laura Brown

Bunny at Lake Padden - 📷 by Jessica Turner

Ice Flow on Bush - 📷 by Katy Hicks

Tag @bellinghamsterwheel on Instagram or reply to this email to get your photos in The Hamster Wheel.

Weather Forecast

Friday: 42°F 🌡️ 33°F | 🌧️ Chance Rain/Snow Mix | 🌧️ 20% | 💨 SE 1 to 6 mph

Saturday: 43°F 🌡️ 37°F | 🌧️ Rain And Snow | 🌧️ 100% | 💨 E 3 to 7 mph

Sunday: 45°F 🌡️ 38°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 100% | 💨 E 6 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Fri	6:50 AM	H	8.90
Fri	12:42 PM	L	4.29
Fri	5:43 PM	H	7.07
Sat	12:21 AM	L	1.02
Sat	7:07 AM	H	8.78
Sat	1:21 PM	L	3.56
Sat	6:36 PM	H	6.73
Sun	12:56 AM	L	1.99
Sun	7:23 AM	H	8.67
Sun	2:00 PM	L	2.83
Sun	7:33 PM	H	6.41

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Birders of a Feather Counting Birds Together

Each February, for four days, birders worldwide join in a massive bird identification effort in partnership with Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society called the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Submissions help scientists better understand global bird populations before their annual springtime migrations.

When GBBC was launched in 1998 by Cornell Lab, it was the first online citizen science program to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. To grasp just how current the results are, you can watch identifications as they arrive from around the world on this eBird results map.

The Bird Count is open to everyone, and it only takes a few minutes to identify whatever birds are around when you’re at the park, a beach, or in your backyard. My favorite submission tool is the Merlin Bird ID smartphone app. It’s free and produced by the Cornell Lab, so there are no ads. Overall, it’s the best pocket birding tool I’ve found. Here are the GBBC instructions about how to submit your identifications through Merlin. Bundle up, bring a thermos of warm tea, and count some birds!!

In other news…

🐚 Looking for a reason to head to the beach this weekend? RE Sources, the organization behind the RE Store and other local initiatives, is holding a Beach Cleanup at Locust Beach this Saturday from 1-3 PM, where volunteer cleaner-uppers of all ages can help prevent trash from getting into Bellingham Bay.

RE Sources hosts “beach cleanups — as well as cleanups along rivers and lakes — throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties, providing cleanup equipment and a place to connect with like-minded community members.” Register on the Re Sources website if you can make this one; otherwise, keep an eye on their event page and jump on next.

📽️ CASCADIA International Women's Film Festival is screening Breaking Boundaries at FireHouse Arts & Events Center on Saturday (Feb 15) in honor of Black History Month. This film follows Nastasya Generalova, the only black girl on the US Olympic rhythmic gymnastics team, in the stressful lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics qualification.

The 76-minute documentary is directed by Dina Burlis, who will be at the FireHouse for a Q&A with audience members after the film. Watch the trailer above 👆️ and purchase tickets for the 7 PM screening.

Bellingham Dockside Market

Seafood From The Salish Sea

The Bellingham Dockside Market is open tomorrow (Jan 4), from 10 AM to 2PM at the Fishermen's Pavilion in Squalicum Harbor.

SHOP DOCKSIDE

Sleipnir Fish/Blue Harvest
💙(Fresh) Whole fresh WA black cod, 💙(Fresh) Whole fresh WA rockfish, 💙(Fresh) Whole fresh WA lingcod

Drayton Harbor Oyster Co
💙(Fresh) Pacific oysters, 💙(Fresh) Taylor Shellfish clams and mussels, To-go seafood soups and chowders, Ekone tinned seafood, Anna's sourdough bread

DJ Fish Co
Frozen WA king salmon fillets, Smoked king salmon

Icy Fresh Seafood
IQF side stripe shrimp whole and tails, IQF coonstripe shrimp tails, 5lb mixed whole shrimp (pinks, sidestripes, coonstripes)

Crab Bellingham
💙(Fresh) Live Dungeness crab, Frozen-at-sea whole albacore tuna (F/V Connie H), Lummi Island Sea Greens dried sugar kelp

Slack Tide Fisheries
Frozen local sockeye and king salmon portions, Canned salmon, 💙(Fresh) Live Dungeness crab

Sea to Shore Seafood Co.
Salmon (various portions), Frozen boneless skinless halibut, Smoked frozen salmon, Shelf-stable smoked salmon, Alaska Weathervane scallops

Lummi Seafood Market
💙(Fresh) Live red and green sea urchin, Refreshed whole and filleted local coho salmon, Refreshed local king salmon fillets and whole, Frozen local spot prawns, Canned local king salmon, regular and jalapeno, Smoked king salmon, vacuumed packed and frozen, 💙(Fresh) Live Dungeness crab, Frozen local geoduck

Jean C. Family Fisheries
Frozen black cod sides and portions, Smoked black cod, Frozen rockfish portions, Frozen ling cod portions, Frozen albacore tuna

Desire Fish Company (Gate 7 aboard F/V Desire)
Frozen Alaskan king, Coho and sockeye fillets and portions

LUNCH AT DOCKSIDE

Lummi Island-based Legoe Bay Reefnetter Food Truck will be onsite this Saturday to serve reefnet-caught pink salmon and chips, reefnet-caught pink salmon tacos, and smoked salmon chowder.

When they’re not at Dockside, Legoe Bay Reefnetter can be found at 2106 S Nugent Rd, Lummi Island, from 11-7 Tues-Wed, and 11-6 Fri-Sun serving “the freshest and most delicious seafood the Salish Sea has to offer.”

Bellingham’s own Tam Tam Pizza will be at Dockside this Saturday, serving Salmon Orange Duck Fat pizza, Pepperoni pizza, and Cheese pizza.

You can also find Tam Tam Pizza at Fringe Brewing on Tuesdays and at Lost Giants Cider Company from Thursday-Sunday.

Food & Drinks

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Friday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Falafel Feast @ 4370 Meridian St
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Mobile Mouth Hole @ Lowes Parking Lot
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Transition Outpost (5090 Samish Way)
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Saturday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Transition Outpost (5090 Samish Way)
Sammies Vegan @ Bellingham Farmers Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Bellingham Farmers Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Dockside Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Sunday Food Trucks
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Transition Outpost (5090 Samish Way)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.

Because it’s fun to be a lookie-loo

Crash an Open House

3309 Sydney Court (Open Sun 2-4 PM)
Wow! Look at this fun home. The listing describes it as a “custom one-owner home,” which I assume means it’s been renovated with new finishes. Whoever did the reno did an excellent job creating a very attractive home inside and out. Plus, it has a lighted sports court in the backyard. What!! 😉 Listing.

509 Carolina Street (Open Sat 11-12:30, Sun 1-3)
If you’ve been reading this newsletter for any length of time, you’ve probably figured out I’m a sucker for Bellingham’s craftsman bungalows. Even better if they’re located in the heart of Sunnyland Neighborhood. 😍 Absolute gem. Listing.

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

THEATRE - DANCE - FILM

Bellingham Theatre Guild:
Home, I’m Darling | Thurs, Fri, Sat 7 PM; Sun 2 PM

New Prospect Theatre:
36 Questions | Fri, Sat 7:30 PM; Sat, Sun 2 PM

Western - College of F&PA:
The Storyteller | Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30; Sat 2 PM

Bellingham Circus Guild:
My Circus Valentine | Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun (Multiple Times)

FireHouse Arts & Events Center:
Cascadia International Women's Film Festival - Breaking Boundaries | Sat 7 PM

COMEDY

Nacho Problems:
Comedy Open Mic | Thurs 8:30

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Bachata : Bham Bachata @ ‘ONO Kitchen & Bar | Thurs 7:30 PM
Social Partner Dance : Flow Fusion @ Karate Church | Thurs 7 PM
Party : Tiny Dancing Queen @ Wild Buffalo | Sat 9 PM
Party : Heart Beatz Rave @ Blue Room | Sat 8 PM
Salsa : The Salsa Collective @ The Majestic Ballroom | Sun 5:30 PM

Help Spread The Word

Refer three Bellingham friends to join our newsletter community, and we’ll include a birthday callout to one person you specify on their B’day 🎂. Get your referral link here. Your current referral count is: 0. You’re so close!.

Music & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Friday Games & Trivia
None Scheduled

Saturday Games & Trivia
None Scheduled

Sunday Games & Trivia
Bingo @ Paws For A Beer | 3 PM
Trivia Night @ Stemma Brewing Co. | 5:30 PM

Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

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Have a great Friday!!