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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Check trees for nests before chopping them down

'The pruning around golf courses, and strata buildings hacking back shrubs, shows me there is a lack of education around this subject with many landscapers in town'
female hummingbird feeding babies - canada - getty images
A female hummingbird is pictured tending to her babies in a nest. A Whistler local is reminding neighbours to check tree branches for these tiny nests before launching into any landscaping projects this May.

Recent drives around town have shown me that not many realize the damage they’re doing whilst pruning/chopping down trees during the spring. 

Did you know it’s illegal to disturb a migratory bird nest? Every branch you chop off needs to be inspected for hummingbird nests, which are so small you can barely see them even whilst looking for them. 

Cutting down tall grasses, shrubs and trees right now during the nesting period can disturb and destroy nests. 

Of all the FireSmart thinning that’s going on in town right now, the logging in Cheakamus, the new development destroying Riverside and all the forest up there, all the trees that have been chopped down just after the highway turn off, I bet none have been inspected and this isn’t good enough. 

The pruning around golf courses, and strata buildings hacking back shrubs, shows me there is a lack of education around this subject with many landscapers in town.

My email to the RMOW regarding this issue has not been returned. 

Please tend to your gardens in March or leave them until the nesting period is over.

Sara Anderson // Whistler