Nesting hawks delay tree removals

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Mar 24, 2008 | by Peter Hegarty

ALAMEDA _ The city has put off work to possibly remove city- owned trees on Chapin Street until August after nesting hawks were discovered among the branches in one of the trees, and disturbing them would violate state law.

The city's decision came at the 11th hour: When crews showed up Thursday morning to start taking out the sidewalk, curb and a portion of the street in the 1700 block of Chapin Street, a confrontation with neighbors quickly brought police officers to the neighborhood.

The decision also came after the city received word from the California Department of Fish and Game that Cooper's hawks are protected, as well as the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory that noise and other disturbances can cause the birds to abandon their nests.

The nesting season runs from about April to August.

"We did not want to take a chance that we would disturb them and they would leave," said Barbara Hawkins, a city engineer.

The city initially tagged two Liquidambar trees on Chapin Street for removal in May, while a third tree on the street was tagged in October and quickly removed.

The action upset some neighbors, who noted that Cooper's hawks use the trees.

Other residents, however, argued that such large trees are hazardous and damage sidewalks and house foundations.

A neighborhood meeting in February drew about 60 people.

A city-hosted meeting on March 13 over the removal of the trees _ which are apparently lifting up the sidewalk _ also brought out both sides, Hawkins said.

As a result, the city moved to start work Thursday on removing the sidewalk around the trees to set the stage for "air spading" the roots, or removing soil from around the roots to check how extensive they may be, Hawkins said.

"It was a chance for us to do some further exploration," she said.

Neighbor Denise Lai was among those who demanded the work immediately stop.

"These are beautiful and majestic birds that need to be protected, especially during their nesting cycle," Lai said. Among those who contacted the city was Harvey Wilson, an Alameda resident and volunteer with the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory and who helps survey Cooper's hawks nests.

Loud noises and vibrations can disturb the birds and can cause them to leave the nests, which in turn can cause nesting failure and so lower their numbers, Wilson said in an e-mail to city leaders.

"At this point we are going to wait until August and then decide on what to do next," Hawkins said.

Contact Peter Hegarty at phegarty@bayareanewsgroup.com or 510- 748-1654.