News
12 Sep Conservation Update: Little Manzanita Estuary
News Mac DavenportExciting news: the Bainbridge Island Land Trust has officially closed on the Little Manzanita Estuary property!
Now the story continues. To bring this estuary into permanent protection, we must raise $425,000 through Stand for the Land. Achieving this unlocks a matching $425,000 state grant, doubling the power of every gift. That means your support today has TWICE the impact, ensuring this rare shoreline is conserved permanently.
08 Sep Hoppy and Healthy: 2025 Amphibian Monitoring Success
News Mac DavenportThis spring, we surveyed ponds and wetlands on Bainbridge Island for quiet signs of amphibian life, from jelly-like egg masses to tiny tadpoles. Taking part in the first-ever amphibian surveys on the Island, six dedicated volunteers and Land Trust staff logged more than 43 hours wading and peering into the water in search of frogs and salamanders.
04 Sep Join the Board of Directors
News Mac DavenportThe Bainbridge Island Land Trust is seeking individuals to serve on our Board of Directors.
We are excited to welcome those who are eager to contribute their time, talent, and perspective to an organization committed to protecting critical ecosystems and wildlife habitats. Board service is a meaningful way to support conservation while collaborating with a team of thoughtful, community-minded leaders.
02 May Successful Campaign Unites Community to Protect 38 Acres of Grand Forest East
News Mac DavenportMay 2, 2025 BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA – The Bainbridge Island Land Trust, together with its partners— the Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Recreation District and the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation—announces the success of the collaborative campaign to protect the 38-acre parcel at Grand Forest East. Launched on short notice and under an urgent timeline, the campaign received an extraordinary outpouring of generosity and support. Announced only two months ago with a goal to raise over $2.2 million, the campaign faced a tight timeline after the announcement by the Bainbridge Island School District to surplus the 38- acre property in February. The success of this campaign was vital to ensure the property could be purchased by the Park District, which will preserve the land for recreation and conservation. The parcel has been managed as part of the Grand Forest parkland for more than 30 years, even though it was owned by the School District as a possible school site. The community responded swiftly with contributions from hundreds of supporters, including a transformational gift by a private conservation fund established by an Island family, allowing this campaign to reach its ambitious goal in a short timeframe. The success ensures that the property will remain preserved as a public park for future generations, securing its place in the heart of the Island’s natural landscape. “We are incredibly grateful to the Bainbridge Island community for its overwhelming support for the Stand for the Grand Forest campaign,” said Cullen Brady, Executive Director of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. “This collaboration has been a wonderful example of how we can come together to protect the Island’s most cherished places. This campaign demonstrated the strength and unity of this community by ensuring this land remains in public ownership.” The property, which is part of the…
09 Apr Bainbridge Island Land Trust Secures Permanent Protection for Winslow Heron Rookery with Strong Community Support
News Mac DavenportBainbridge Island, WA — April 9, 2025 — The Bainbridge Island Land Trust announced today that is closing on the purchase of the Winslow Heron Rookery, a vital nesting site for Great Blue Herons along the shores of Eagle Harbor. This achievement was made possible through the generosity and dedication of community members who rallied to safeguard this critical habitat. The Winslow Rookery, home to approximately 25 heron nests constructed high in the big leaf maple trees, is one of the few known nesting sites for Great Blue Herons on Bainbridge Island. The half-acre parcel also includes tidelands, shoreline, wetlands, and riparian vegetation—essential for maintaining Eagle Harbor’s ecological health and resilience to a changing climate. In 2024, the property was listed for sale, raising concerns within the community about potential development that could threaten the sensitive habitat. After completing its standard due diligence process and negotiations, the Bainbridge Island Land Trust mobilized a fundraising campaign in February 2025 with a goal of $300,000 to secure the land. Thanks to an outpouring of community support, the campaign successfully raised the funds, enabling the Land Trust to purchase the property and ensure the long-term protection and stewardship of the rookery. “This conservation success demonstrates our community’s deep commitment to protecting Bainbridge Island’s wildlife habitats and natural spaces,” said Cullen Brady, Executive Director of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. “Because of this collective effort, the Winslow Heron Rookery will remain a safe haven for Great Blue Herons and other wildlife for generations to come.” The Land Trust extends its gratitude to all the donors, volunteers, and partners who contributed to this effort. Their support underscores the community’s ongoing dedication to protecting the Island’s cherished natural environments. In late March, several Great Blue Herons were seen returning to the rookery for their annual nesting…
21 Feb Bainbridge Island Land Trust, with the support of the Parks & Trails Foundation, launches campaign to protect 39 acres as public park at Grand Forest East
News Mac Davenport BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA – The Bainbridge Island Land Trust with the support of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation have launched a campaign to raise funds to protect 39 acres at Grand Forest East, allowing purchase by the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District. The Park District on February 21, 2025, announced its intent to purchase the property, contingent on a successful fundraising campaign. With negotiations now underway, the fundraising campaign, Stand for the Grand Forest, is expected to be over $2 million, said Cullen Brady, Executive Director, Bainbridge Island Land Trust. The Board of the Bainbridge Island School District voted to surplus the 39-acre property. “This is an urgent campaign,” Brady said. “The School District’s January 9, 2025, action to surplus and sell this property, among their first order of business in the new year, started the clock ticking. We need the community to join us in protecting the Grand Forest as we know and enjoy it.” The parcel is adjacent to Grand Forest East and has long been maintained as part of the Island’s park, trail, and nature preserve networks. Partners hope to complete the fundraising campaign and purchase by the Park District this spring. “Acquiring this property and formally protecting it for conservation and recreation has been a longtime goal of the Park District, and this is an opportunity to realize that goal,” said Dan Hamlin, Executive Director of the Park & Recreation District. “We can’t make this purchase without the community’s help, so we’re thrilled that the Land Trust and Parks & Trails Foundation are partnering on this fundraising campaign.” The property holds significant conservation value for forest, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience. This campaign is associated with the Land Trust’s ongoing acquisition movement, dedicated to conserving the Island’s most cherished natural habitats. The Land...
04 Feb A Rare Chance to Conserve Winslow’s Great Blue Heron Rookery
News Mac Davenport The Land Trust plans to acquire shoreline to protect critical habitat for the iconic Great Blue Heron Bainbridge Island, WA — January 28, 2025 Along a stretch of shoreline on Eagle Harbor, you’ll hear the echoes of the sounds of Herons and rustling trees above – this is a place where Great Blue Herons return year after year to nest. This special place isn’t just a piece of land; it’s a home for wildlife and a beloved sanctuary in our community. The Bainbridge Island Land Trust is excited to announce a new project to protect the Winslow Rookery, a vital nesting site for Great Blue Herons located on Lovell Avenue. This effort is part of the ongoing Stand for the Land movement, dedicated to conserving the Island’s most cherished natural habitats. The Winslow Rookery, established for decades, is one of the few known Great Blue Heron nesting sites on Bainbridge Island. With approximately 30 nests, it plays a crucial role in the life cycle of these majestic birds, which are considered a sensitive species by the Washington State Department of Ecology. In April 2024, two undeveloped waterfront parcels encompassing the rookery were listed for sale, prompting community concern over potential development impacts on this essential habitat. Recognizing the ecological significance of the rookery, the Land Trust is now working to acquire and permanently protect the portion of the property with the greatest number of bird nests. “The Great Blue Heron is an iconic species on this Island, and the Winslow Rookery is indispensable for their continued presence here,” said Cullen Brady, Executive Director of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. “Conserving this habitat aligns with our mission to conserve and steward the diverse natural environments of Bainbridge Island for the benefit of all.” LEARN MORE This is a rare opportunity to safeguard...
14 Jan 2025 Book Bingo: Read with the Land Trust!
News Mac Davenport The Bainbridge Island Land Trust is holding a 2025 Book Bingo, inspired by the wonderful Seattle Public Library’s Summer Book Bingo! HOW IT WORKS Download the 2025 Book Bingo card. Between now and December 31, 2025, select books based on these conservation-related categories. Track your reading on the bingo card; one book can only be used to meet one category. For example, you could use a book of poems about birds for EITHER "nature poetry" or "feathered friends" but not both. Complete a bingo and/or blackout! You will receive a prize for both 1 bingo and blackout, but not more than 1 bingo. To receive your prize, drop off your card at our office or take a photo/scan and send it to Megan. You will need to collect your prize at the Land Trust office (147 Finch Place SW, Suite #3, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110) Bingo: When you read a book that fits the category, write its title in the box. You may get 5 in a row up & down, left to right, or diagonally. The Free square counts towards your 5. Blackout: When you read a book that fits the category, write its title in the box. When you fill out the whole card (24 titles + the free square), you have blackout. WHERE CAN I FIND READING IDEAS? 2025 Suggested Reading List, curated by Bainbridge Island Land Trust staff & board Seattle Public Library Reading Lists: Birds Environmental Cli-fi or Environmental Non-fiction Local Author list from Bainbridge Public Library University of Wisconsin-Madison Water FIND BOOKS Eagle Harbor Books Bainbridge Island Public Library Friends of the Bainbridge Island Library Book Sales Please feel free to reach out to Megan Rohrssen, Community Education Coordinator, with any questions or suggestions. Happy reading!