Protected birds cause delays at St. Louis bridge construction site
Construction has been delayed again for the new St. Louis Bridge, this time to protect a species of bird that was recently found nesting at the site.
In late June nine nests belonging to the Horned Grebe a protected water bird that usually nests in small ponds, marshes and shallow bays were discovered. Across western Canada, the Grebe has gone through both long-term and short-term declines, caused by factors such as breeding habitat loss, droughts, the increase of nest predators, and environmental pollution caused by events such as oil spills.
Rosann Semchuck, executive director of communications with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure said the nests were found in three different sloughs by the site. She said since the sightings contractors have been instructed to remain at least 100 metres away from those nesting areas.
“We don’t expect this to be a significant delay,” said Semchuck. And we do still anticipate that the bridge will be ready to go in the fall of 2013. But because of them (the birds) being a protected species work can’t happen within a hundred metres of the water bodies containing their nests.”