We need your help to bombard the enviromental agencies that are supposed to be working on our behalf to stop the destruction of birds and their homes on Eagleridge Bluffs.
Please phone, fax and/or email the following Environment Canada and BC Ministry of Environment Officials to register your concern and demand for action with respect to the migratory birds that are nesting in the Eagleridge bluffs and Larsen Creek Wetlands. See the guidlelines following this listing.
Al Wallace,
Regional Director General (Acting), Pacific and Yukon Region, Environment Canada, Vancouver BC
Phone: 604-664-9100 / Fax: 604-664-9004 / Email: al.wallace@ec.gc.ca
Canadian Wildservice in order of seniority.
Steve Wendt Co-Chair, Chief Migratory Bird Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Branch
Canadian Wildlife Service
Phone: 819-953-1422 (no fax available) Email: steve.wendt@ec.gc.ca
Paul Kluckner, Director , Pacific and Yukon Region, Canadian Wildlife Service,
Environment Canada
Phone: 604-940-4700 , Fax: 604-664-4068, Email: paul.kluckner@ec.gc.ca
Bob Elner, Head of Migratory Birds
Canadian Wildlife Service
Phone: 604-940-4674 Email: bob.elner@ec.gc.ca
Rob Butler, Research Scientist
Canadian Wildlife Service.
Phone: 604-940-4672 Email: rob.butler@ec.gc.ca
Andrew Robinson,
Canadian Wildlife Service ( he monitors the northshore/ signs off on the bird surveys)
Phone: 604-940-4685 Email: Andrew.robinson@ec.gc.ca
Paul Sprout,
Regional Director General, Pacific Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Phone: 604-666-609 / Fax: 604-666-8956 / Email: sproutpa@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Tom Bell,
A/Regional Manager, Lower Mainland Region, Environmental Stewardship Division
Phone 604-582-5200 / Fax: 604-930-7119 / Email: Tom.Bell@gov.bc.ca
Dave Fraser,
Species at Risk Specialist, Terrestrial Ecosystem Science Section, BC Ministry of Environment
Phone 1-250-387-9756 / Fax: 250-356-9145/ Email: dave.fraser@gov.bc.ca
Paul Finkel,
Project Assessment Manager
Environmental Assessment Office
BC Ministry of the Environment
Phone: 250-387-8745 Fax: 250-387-2208 Email: paul.finkel@gov.bc.ca
United States of America
David Smith, Co-chair, Chief
Division of Bird Habitat Conservation
US Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mailstop 4075
Arlington, VA 22203
Paul Schmidt, Assistant Director
Migratory Birds and State Programs
US Fish and Wildlife Service
1849 C Street, NW, Room 3250
Washington, DC 20240
Felipe Ramirez Ruiz de Velasco Co-Chair, Director General
Direccion General de Vida Silvestre
SEMARNAT
Nivel 1
Avenida Revolucion #1325
Colonia Tlacopac, San Angel 01040
Mexico, D.F.
What you should say – in your own words:
Re: Migratory Birds:
Professional Biologists and birders have discovered 12 active songbird nests (from 11 different species) in the area of the overland route at Eagleridge Bluffs. Most of these are either on the alignment of the road, or near enough to require a buffer diversion around them under the Federal Migratory bird act. 40 species of migratory songbirds have been confirmed in the area by these same professional biologists, and this is prime nesting season. (Mid May to mid August)
1.Given the number of nests found so far and the time of year it is absolutely certain that many active nests have already been destroyed in the cutting in the active worksite.
2. Looking at the next areas to be cleared, biologists cannot possibly find every nest, or even a significant proportion of the nests-- birds understandably camouflage their nests from predators and very often nests are too high up to spot easily. It is thus certain that clearing anywhere in the area during nesting season, even outside protective buffers installed around known nests, will destroy active nests.
You are charged with the responsibility and the power to protect migratory birds by law. ALL Nesting migratory song birds, their nests, eggs, young and nest trees must be protected during the nesting season, according to:
1)Federal/International Migratory Bird Convention Act of 1994 to which Canada is a party
2) The BC Wildlife Act which contains the same, and supplementary protective measures.
What are you going to do about it?
What they will say
“Bird surveys are being done by professional biologists in accordance with the regulations” “We are monitoring the situation and are confident that the (various Acts) are being rigidly adhered-to”
How you should respond
1. Those bird surveys are not available to us, despite repeated requests.
2. Even if they were available to us, it's obvious from the first cut that we're better at finding nests than the professionals hired to do the job. (Totally unacceptable survey quality!)
3. The first clearing work has been done with straight-sided cuts, perfectly following the survey lines. No evidence of buffered diversions around the active nests you must admit were there-- birds cannot read survey maps to site their nests only in the areas where we've found them so far. Either nests were found in surveys, and no protective buffers were placed (obvious violation), or no nests were found. (hopelessly inadequate surveys) Therefore you have already “monitored” the destruction of active bird nests, with more to come-- you are clearly not doing your job under the Migratory Bird Convention Act. When will you start meeting the requirements of this act?
And most importantly call your MLA and MP this coming week-end
Ralph Sultan - West Vancouver - Capilano - Ph: 604 981-0050
Joan McIntyre - West Vancouver-Garibaldi - Ph: 604 981-0045
Katherine Whittred - North Vancouver-Lonsdale - Ph: 604 981-0033
Blair Wilson - Federal MP for West Vancouver/Sunshine Coast - Ph: 604-981-1790