Meet Vancouver’s city bird for 2016: Peregrine falcon

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      Members of Team Barn Swallow and Team Western Grebe aren't celebrating today.

      The results of Vancouver's second city bird election are in, and the winner is the Peregrine Falcon.

      That species topped the polls with 115,164 votes, or 41 percent of the total ballots cast.

      With 91,379 votes, or 34 percent, the Western Grebe placed second in the election, a city hall social-media-marketing exercise that raises awareness of birds.

      Meanwhile, the Barn Owl (37,727 votes, or 14 percent) and the Barn Swallow (23,404 votes, or nine percent) took third and last place, respectively. 

      A total of 267,674 votes was recorded.

      Only these four rare birds were approved to run in this year's election, which allowed anyone to vote multiple times online and at physical polling stations.

      The Peregrine Falcon will take over from the reigning official city bird, the Black-Capped Chickadee, in the new year.

      The Black-Capped Chickadee won its mandate with 277,924 votes, more than twice that netted by the Peregrine Falcon.

      Comments

      3 Comments

      Seriously?!?

      May 11, 2015 at 12:46pm

      How about an analysis of how much time was wasted by city employees on this garbage? Want a city bird? Donate $100 to a bird charity and let them hold a vote. What an absurd waste of time and money.

      Bob Ross

      May 12, 2015 at 12:44pm

      What a waste of taxpayers' money. You call it a city hall social-media marketing exercise. What a joke! Get a real job!
      What's next? Weasel Awareness Week? The whole pack of you are sure to win. Your pal, Bob

      trained seals

      May 12, 2015 at 2:39pm

      Let's hold a competition for the best trained seal in Vancouver. But wait, are they in Council Chambers?