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Aug
4 , 2003
NESTING BIRDS MAY DELAY RED HILL CONSTRUCTION
Friends
of Red Hill Valley
today learned that a number of migratory bird species are
nesting and caring for young in the half hectare of valley
lands threatened by expressway construction plans that are
scheduled to begin tomorrow (August 5) morning. Between
four and eight species engaged in nesting and/or mating
activity are present in the area slated for construction
north of Albright Road and Greenhill Avenue near Elizabeth
Bagshaw School.
The
federal Migratory Birds Convention Act protects migratory
birds species from disturbance during their nesting activities.
The Act is enforced by the Canadian Wildlife Service, a
branch of Environment Canada. The City of Hamilton has recognized
the relevance of the Act for the expressway construction
plans, but is apparently unaware of the presence of nesting
birds at the Greenhill Avenue site. The City arranged for
tree cutting to take place in late March of this year for
another expressway-related project in order to avoid violating
the Act (by removing the habitat prior to the start of nesting
activity).
The
birds were observed on Sunday evening and Monday morning
by two experienced individuals who are participants in the
Ontario Breeding Bird Atlasing project. They reported confirmed
nesting activity by House Wrens, Song Sparrows, Black-capped
Chickadees and Downy Woodpeckers. Four other species with
young fledglings were also present, and a further four species
appeared to be defending territories.
Friends
of Red Hill has contacted the Hamilton Police department,
the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Red Hill Valley Project
office about the presence of the birds and will be on site
tomorrow morning to provide notification to Dufferin Construction,
the company hired by the City for the expressway construction
work near Albright and Greenhill.
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