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An update from Yucwmenlúcwu (Caretakers of the Land) Staff
It is breeding season for the birds and the Migratory Bird Convention Act (1994) requires development proponents to prevent potential impacts to any birds while they are actively nesting. When land clearing occurs during the breeding season (April 10 – August 10), a breeding bird nest survey is required to be completed prior to commencing ground disturbance activities.
Yucwmenlúcwu (Caretakers of the Land) staff have been taking care, seeking out and protecting active nests on three separate Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure projects this summer. When active nests are found during the survey a “no work zone” buffer is established around the nest and the nest is monitored until it is determined to be no longer active. Most often this occurs once nestlings have successfully left the nest site.
One of the three projects was for an access road at Jumping creek adjacent to the Illecillewaet River for another four-laning section of the Trans-Canada Highway, east of Revelstoke. A total of 18 nests, including three active nests, were encountered within the 750m right-of-way clearing at Jumping creek.