‘Davis Needle’ points the way between UC Davis and downtown
Whole Earth Festival at 50

Concern about tree pruning in middle of nesting season

By Pam Nieberg 

Please contact the City Council, City Manager, City Wildlife Resource Specialist and whomever else you wish regarding the city tree pruning that is going on right now.  Someone in the city contracted for the pruning of city trees now, in the middle of nesting season for virtually every bird species, including the legally protected Swainsons Hawk.  Who in their right mind would do that?

When I received a notice of the pruning, I contacted the city to ask that it stop, giving the reasons stated above.  Unfortunately, a number of the city trees in my neighborhood, including a number of Canary Island Pines which Swainson's hawks love, were heavily pruned despite efforts to prevent it. 

Normally, this time of year, I hear the Swainson's hawks vocalizing all over the neighborhood, every day, all day. Yesterday and today after the pruning--complete silence.

Please contact the city and ask them to halt the pruning now, and reschedule it for an appropriate time, like the fall and winter, when nesting for
all birds is over, babies have left the nests, and many trees are entering dormancy.

Pam Nieberg, 530-756-6856, [email protected]

Who to Contact:

City Manager: Mike Webb <[email protected]>

City Wildlife Resource Specialist  John McNerney  <[email protected]>

City Council

Brett Lee <[email protected]>
Lucas Frerichs <[email protected]>
Gloria Partida <[email protected]>
Will Arnold <[email protected]>
Dan Carson  <[email protected]>

Comments

Nancy Price

Pam, thanks for this shout-out for birds, trees and tree-pruning policy that makes sense for nature in the fall and winter, and not just for a corporate schedule. Though we did have a lot of rain, there must have been windows of opportunity. From your description of "heavy pruning," sounds like the city is trying to save money by not having to prune as often.

Where are Tree Davis or the Natural Resources Commission on this?

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the author. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until the author has approved them.

Your Information

(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)