Wildlife rehabilitator Marsha Sadler (right) shows members of the street tree committee a screech owl rescued from Redlands. Redlands Community News Photo Credit: Linda Richards
Candy Canzler, a certified wildlife rehabilitator, is once again frustrated.
Three years ago, she and another rehabilitator visited the City of Redlands Street Tree Commission (STC) to rescue an owl from a felled palm in the tree-rich area.
The city actively prunes city trees during the nesting season, which runs from March to early September, and he appealed to the city to postpone pruning until the nesting season is over.
A few weeks ago, they returned with more wildlife rehabilitators, their helpers, and crates filled with rescued birds.
“We currently have 52 eagle owls, 12 barn owls and three red-tailed hawks,” Cansler said, citing other wildlife facility closures as well as recent rain and winds. “When it rains, there are more rodents, which are the main food for many raptors, and their response is, 'Let's have lots of babies.' And because many birds return to the same trees every year, , strong winds and rain can destabilize the nest and cause the chicks to fall out.
She said she spent $7,000 out of her own pocket to provide food and shelter for the rescue this season.
Canzler said many rescues have been made due to tree removal in the area.
“What we can control is not cutting down trees during nesting and calving season,” she says.
Palm trees are a major culprit, and six local bird species that use palm trees include owls, hawks and orioles, as well as squirrels and raccoons.
Leslie Triplett, CEO of Pond Digger Ranch Wildlife Rehabilitation in Cherry Valley, said, “It doesn't cost anything, and there's no financial reason for the city to do pruning at the right time.'' I want them to be pushed up,'' he said, adding that pruning should be done at the end of September. Until the end of February.
She advised the STC that state regulations prohibit harming birds, and that state law declares it illegal to take, possess, or unnecessarily destroy bird nests or eggs. did.
Field Services Supervisor Eric Reeves said he met with the contractor, West Coast Arborists, the day before and said they had finished pruning the palms, but that some trees were still being pruned. “There will probably be changes to the pruning schedule, but I can't give you any specifics at this point,” he said.
Reeves cited an example where a city contractor stopped pruning and skipped a tree in an area where a raptor nest was discovered.
Asked by STC members where the birds nest in the palms, Canzler explained that the birds build their nests from the bottom of the old palm fronds upwards.
“I don't understand why screech owls and barn owls use palm trees. They usually nest in tree cavities, but they nest in little hollow-looking bulges in palm trees.” she said as the oriole built a hanging nest under the tree. A palm leaf that is no longer visible.
“Normally I don't go halfway up the mountain to see them, but there was a tree cutter here who was doing a good job. drove to pick up the crow and made him promise to contact us anytime,'' said wildlife rehabilitator Marcia Sadler.
Reeves also commented on complaints about unlicensed private loggers cutting down residents' trees, saying, “It can become a cat-and-mouse game.” It's very easy for them to change their name and come back as a new company. We get their information, we get pictures of the truck, we tell them what they need to do. ”
The City of Redlands website has a link where you can download a brochure called “Keeping Birds' Nests Safe, Trees Healthy.”
Residents who observe tree pruning that may harm birds should call the city or CALTIP at (888) 334-2258.
