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Songbird habitat 'pureed'
Environment Canada investigates GNWT's roadside clearing program

Heather Lange
Northern News Services
Published Tuesday, July 5, 2011

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Environment Canada is investigating the clearing of roadside shrubbery by the territorial government after learning nesting areas of migratory songbirds were being razed before chicks had a time to grow wings strong enough to fly away.

NNSL photo/graphic

Jamie Bastedo holds a yellow warbler's nest – found at a separate location – while standing amid destroyed roadside shrubbery across from Jackfish Lake on Highway 3 on June 30. Yellow warblers are one of six species of migratory songbirds that only breed in shrubbery. Bastedo is calling on the GNWT to wait later into summer before cutting roadside vegetation to give songbird chicks time to grow strong enough to fly away. - Heather Lange/NNSL photo

The destruction of breeding areas for migratory birds is illegal without a permit, according to the Migratory Birds Convention Act.

The investigation was launched after Jamie Bastedo, a Yellowknife author and naturalist, encountered a wake of destruction left by a Department of Transportation mowing machine that was clearing roadside brush on the Ingraham Trail just hours after he surveyed the very same area for a bird breeding survey on behalf of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, June 21.

“We were just east of Prelude Lake, and we hear this big huge backhoe with this giant whipper-snipper on it," said Bastedo.

"It's as big as a round dinner table and it comes down from above and it basically purees the shrubs and anything in them. So imagine the chicks, the eggs, the nest, maybe a few adult birds are literally pureed by this thing and that is the end of it."

Bastedo said the roadside shrubbery is ideal habitat for six species of songbirds that are at the peek of their breeding season come late June. Those birds include Lincoln's sparrows,Tennessee warblers, orange-crowned warblers, yellow warblers, chipping sparrows and white-throated sparrows.

Bastedo would like to see the transportation department wait to clear roadside vegetation until later in July after the songbird chicks have grown strong enough to fly.

The department has been approached before with the request, he said, but to no avail.

“It really is a question of timing," said Bastedo.

"They have their reasons for clearing the shrubbery by the roadside but the question is, do they have to do it during the peek of the breeding season? Which is this narrow window, particularly in June, where those habitats are being occupied. It is the most sensitive period in their life cycle ... Some of the best shrub growth we have ironically is along side the roads because they are routinely removed and willows like to come back with a vengeance."

Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for Environment Canada, confirmed it's illegal to disturb migratory bird habitat without a permit.

"The Migratory Birds Convention Act protects migratory birds, their eggs and their nests," Johnson stated by e-mail.

"A migratory bird cannot be disturbed or destroyed without permit. Environment Canada is undertaking an investigation under the Migratory Birds Convention Act of 1994 to establish the facts and this issue cannot be commented upon further until the investigation is complete."

Earl Blacklock, a communications manager for the Department of Transportation, said the department had no permit but roadside clearing of vegetation is done under the authority of the NWT Highways Act. Safety comes first when it comes to roadside shrubbery, he stated in an e-mail.

"DOT’s priority is to create a sustainable transportation system which is safe for the traveling public. The cutting of shrubs along the roadway is part of our effort to ensure a clear line-of-sight along the road, which we do for safety reasons – drivers need a clear line-of-sight to know what is ahead, particularly on curves," Blacklock stated.

He added that none of the songbirds identified by Bastedo are considered to be bird species at risk. However, he stated the department is considering to change the timing of its roadside clearing program.

“We are examining whether we can postpone the clearing work until a later month each year without compromising safety.” Blacklock stated.

Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley, who has a PhD specializing in bird biology and is a self-professed bird enthusiast, said while affected migratory birds breeding on roadsides around Yellowknife, are not considered at risk, they are in decline.

“You may not realize that migratory songbirds in North America have been declining steadily, and many populations are considered to be in serious jeopardy if these long-term trends continue,” said Bromley.

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