Published on May 10, 2023
If You See a Bird in a Tree Leave it Be
Have You Ever Heard of a “Bird Sweep?”
When planning any tree removals, or even just trimming trees on your property this spring and summer, residents are urged to check their trees for bird nests during migratory bird season from April 15 to August 15 as per the federal Migratory Bird Convention Act.
If a nest is found during migratory bird season, it is critical to hold off on removing or trimming the tree you had your eye on during yard work season until after migratory bird season has ended. If you have any questions, you can also email environment@stalbert.ca for guidance.
“Nesting birds must be handled with caution. Some birds, upon having their nests disrupted, may abandon their eggs entirely. Others may suffer direct mortality through tree trimming or removal,” says Melissa Logan, Environmental Coordinator - Sturgeon River & Natural Areas. “Migratory birds are protected through federal legislation, and disregarding these regulations can lead to financial penalties, or even jail time.”
Bird Types
“Residents should be on the lookout for any bird besides crows and magpies. Robins, Canada geese, all songbirds, all waterfowl, woodpeckers, owls and other raptors are all protected and present in St. Albert,” she adds.
City Work and Bird Sweeps
When City-led construction work or tree removal is taking place, professional biologists are hired to complete bird sweeps before construction begins, or before any tree removal. The bird sweeps are valid for five days which means a larger scale project may require multiple bird sweeps throughout the work, depending on construction phasing.
“Our City arborists are trained to look for nesting birds when they are doing tree work and the Environment branch works closely with other departments which may come into contact with migratory birds during their work,” says Melissa. “For example, we will provide advice regarding the sensitivity periods, and will review bird sweeps once they are completed. We can then follow up on protective measures such as setbacks while we are out completing inspections on the job site.”
Additional Resources
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Last edited: May 10, 2023