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Highway construction delayed as eaglets confirmed

Work on section wonÕt resume until August if young birds are healthy
eagles-nest1

After weeks of watching and waiting, biologists have at last confirmed the existence of an active eagles nest in an area north of Horseshow Bay. Because it is illegal for highway construction crews to blast or create a disturbance within 1,000 metres of an active nest, work on that section of the highway has been delayed until mid-August at the latest.

The issue of the nest cropped up in May after a group of local bird watchers and biologists presented evidence of nesting behaviour to the Ministry of Transportation, former Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, and the Sea to Sky Highway Improvement Project (S2SHIP). The nest is well-known to locals who have watched the same male and female eagles use it for the past three years.

After hearing about the nest S2SHIP used their own biologist to examine the site, and he concluded that the eagles were not exhibiting any nesting behaviour.

The local bird watchers disagreed with this assessment, and staked out the nest to gather their own evidence. They took pictures and observed the nest in regular shifts, until at last they brought their case back to the highway builders.

After weighing the new evidence S2SHIP agreed to move work crews further down the highway until the end of June. If the eagles were in fact raising young that was the latest window in which they could expect to see eaglets in the nest.

The proof finally came last week when the North Shore Nest Environmental Stewards Team (NEST), a residentsÕ coalition formed to watch the eagles, released several photographs that showed two to three eaglets that are approximately seven weeks old. Because of the size and aspect of the nest, it was difficult to spot the young birds until they were big enough to appear over the top.

The pictures were actually taken on June 4, and were confirmed by bald eagle biologist and NEST advisor David Hancock on June 15.

"WeÕre very pleased Alex photographed the eaglets and Mr. Hancock was able to subsequently confirm their presence following photo analysis work in the lab," said Jim Cuthbert, a member of NEST.

The eaglesÕ nest is also interesting from a scientific perspective. The fact that it is so close to the highway and can be easily observed from a pullout section is rare, as is the number of young.

"In viewing several thousand nests, I have only ever seen three West Coast nests that have produced three young Ð suggesting that this is a very unique and productive pair of eagles," wrote Hancock.

"So this particular nest is not just unique in being one of the very few that are visible to the public at eye-level, but perhaps unique in potentially producing three young."

The photos and HancockÕs report were submitted to the provincial government last week to ensure that the road construction crews comply with Ministry of Environment guidelines.

S2SHIP was also made aware of the discovery, and have already adjusted their work schedule accordingly. Because the section of highway that is under construction is over seven kilometers, crews are able to avoid the area until early to mid-August when the eaglets are expected to leave the nest.

After that, Hancock is suggesting that crews work quickly.

"The important point is to get the (Sea to Sky Highway) road work done as soon as possible once the chicks leave or there is a determination that they are not there, so that the most important disturbance period Ð the return of the breeding adults to the territory to start the next yearÕs cycle, which starts in October ÐÊis back quiet around the nest," he said.

If the birds are disturbed during this period there is a chance that they wonÕt return for a full year, if they return at all.

NEST is concerned that the eaglets have not been spotted in recent days.

"ItÕs difficult because they are camouflaged, which is natureÕs way of protecting them when theyÕre young. If theyÕre hunkered down in the nest, we wonÕt see them until they get a little older," said Cuthbert. "Certainly the stormy weather weÕve had is somewhat worrying, and thereÕs a chance that they eaglets have been predated upon by ravens, but in the last few days weÕve had reports that the eagles are still active around the nest so weÕre keeping our fingers crossed."

More photos of the site were taken this week, which should conclude if any of the eaglets are still alive. While they are alive the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Transportation are observing the guideline that prohibits activities like blasting and drilling within a kilometre. There is also a guideline that no brushing or cutting take place within half a kilometre, and NEST is working to ensure that will be enforced in the coming weeks.

"Right now weÕre erring on the side of nature, that the eaglets are alive and that it is still an active nest until we have proof one way or another. WeÕre pleased that we were able to bring this to the governmentÕs attention, and that the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Environment are enforcing these best practices," said Cuthbert. "Someone is out there every day, so we should have an answer soon, maybe within days."