[All] Owen Trees falling: Concern for Birds

[Louisette Lanteigne]

I videotaped work crews after they removed many trees on the Owen property today. The date is APRIL 19, 2010. (I typed the wrong date previously, my apologies. This is very upsetting to observe.)
 
I just notified the MNR tip line about this matter and called Bruce McLellan at the RCMP about this.
 
Chris Gosselin at the Region apparently permitted this in spite of the fact that Acadian Flycatchers have been noted in the EIS Reports for ESPA 19 and inspite of the fact the forests had yet to be studied by Lyle Friesen. 
 
The trees are on the ground, they have not been shredded yet. We need someone to check for nests. Acadian Flycatchers nest in coniferous forests as noted in reports that I've sent to Mr. Friesen. I'm hoping to get the MNR or Environment Canada to look into this matter. 
 
The City of Waterloo's bylaw currently conflicts with Regional Bylaw for start time and endings. The area has acadian flycatchers sighted in the EIS reports for both the Owen and West Side Lands EIS studies. Lyle Friesen and Ted Cheskey told me about the birds in the area and Lyle confirmed they didn't test the coniferous trees saying the birds don't breed in that type of tree but I proved him wrong with the following reports that confirm they do use such trees as noted in the following reports. 
 
http://images.library.wisc.edu/EcoNatRes/EFacs/PassPigeon/ppv54no01/reference/econatres.pp54n01.jbielefeldt.pdf
 
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/forestry/publications/endangered/PDF/WIFieldGuide.pdf
 
During the last OMB hearing regarding the West Side Lands, the prohibitions on construction activity to protect breeding birds was increased from the city's current May-July 15th restrictions to match the regional restrictions reflecting prohibitions on construction activity from April- August 31. The Board chair bumped up the policy to not only prohibit the "destruction" of nests, but prohibited "DISTURBANCES" as well. The regional policy is more inline with the Federal restrictions.
 
We need someone on site ASAP to check the trees for nest before they shred them. I hope this can be secured. Next call is to Environment Canada.
 
Lulu
 
 
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