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Prominent B.C. eagle nesting tree cut down

City investigating after tree, near Highway 99, was illegally damaged
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Eagle biologist David Hancock inspects a tree, which was once home to an eagle nest, in South Surrey. (Aaron Hinks photo)

The city is investigating after it had to remove a tree that was home to one of the 含羞草研究社渕ost noticeable eagle含羞草研究社檚 nests in Surrey.含羞草研究社

Surrey含羞草研究社檚 manager of trees Nadia Chan told Peace Arch News that she received a call Tuesday afternoon that a tree, located on private property at the corner of Croydon Drive and 20 Avenue, had been partially cut and was at risk of falling.

A city arbourist visited the site that afternoon and determined that the tree was at high risk of falling because it had been cut on both sides, and 含羞草研究社渁lmost entirely the way through,含羞草研究社 Chan said.

Surrey eagle biologist David Hancock, owner of , was there to supervise the removal of the tree Tuesday evening.

含羞草研究社淚 had no alternative (but) to say that it had to come down,含羞草研究社 Hancock told PAN, adding that the tree was hanging on by two inches of wood.

Hancock said he含羞草研究社檚 known of the eagle nest, which could be easily spotted from Highway 99, for the past eight years. It has been used to raise bald eagles every year since then, he added.

Chan said the city含羞草研究社檚 first priority was to secure the area. Crews began closing the road, and removing the tree at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Chan said an investigation has been opened by both the city and province, and they are yet to have any leads on who may be responsible for damaging the tree. She said the city notified the province because the damage caused to the tree is an infraction of the Wildlife Act.

含羞草研究社淪o many people drive by and see it so easily. The tree and the area around it was slated to be saved. The fact that (someone) just said 含羞草研究社榯he hell with it, I含羞草研究社檓 just going to pay the fine and cut it down含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可绂 that含羞草研究社檚 sheer greed,含羞草研究社 Hancock said.

Hancock said there were no eagles in the tree when it was cut down, but he did see an eagle nesting in the tree on Sunday (July 22).

含羞草研究社淭he nest is an active nest. It含羞草研究社檚 raised young every year.含羞草研究社

While the tree was being removed, Hancock said a group of neighbours gathered to see what was going on.

含羞草研究社淚t was not pleasant, but everybody behaved themselves.含羞草研究社

Chan said the city did not issue any permits for the removal of the tree.

含羞草研究社淭he person who started the removal complicated matters. It was a dangerous removal. The company that we had on site did an amazing job at bringing that tree down safely,含羞草研究社 Chan said.

Hancock said the person who initially cut the tree wedged out a section and then cut through the other side.

含羞草研究社淎ll of a sudden, it wasn含羞草研究社檛 going to go in the direction he wanted so he abandoned the area and got the hell out of there,含羞草研究社 Hancock said. 含羞草研究社淚t was about to fall on the power lines.含羞草研究社

Chan agreed that the power lines were a concern.

含羞草研究社淣ow Surrey doesn含羞草研究社檛 have its showpiece bald-eagles nest. One of the most productive. It含羞草研究社檚 kind of sad,含羞草研究社 Hancock said.

Wednesday afternoon, Surrey resident Brian Thorsteen was walking near the fallen tree. A pile of twigs and feathers, which used to be an approximate five-foot-by-five-foot eagles nest, was scattered across the ground.

Thorsteen said he didn含羞草研究社檛 want to take a closer look because 含羞草研究社渋t makes me feel sick.含羞草研究社

He told PAN he was in the area at approximately 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, and could hear juvenile eagles crying from a nearby tree.

Hancock said he含羞草研究社檚 interested in rallying the community together to build a new eagle nest in the area.



About the Author: Aaron Hinks

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