A B.C. Ministry of Transportation decision to use helicopters to spray grass seed and fertilizer on grasslands populated by migrating birds at Colony Farm Regional Park this week had local naturalists and park stewards crying fowl.
The spraying program was initiated to re-seed an area being rehabilitated for fish habitat. A spokesperson for the Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project said the soil around the reclamation site was too soggy to do the job on foot and with trucks.
But groups representing park stewards and environmentalists are upset they weren't consulted or told earlier about the plan - only finding out Tuesday that helicopters would be flying over the park spraying seed for six to eight hours a day for the rest of the week.
"This is a designated wildlife area at a sensitive time," said Liz Thunstrom, a member of the Colony Farm Park Association.
The park is an important staging ground for migratory birds to feed before resuming their long flights, according to bird banding research, and Thunstrom expressed concern the helicopters would disturb the birds and send them on their way without adequate fat stores.
Elaine Golds, a director of the Burke Mountain Naturalists (and a The Tri-City News' Green Scene columnist), said the lack of consultation and the decision to proceed with helicopter spraying show disregard for the wildlife, the park and its stewards.
Golds said she was "shocked" to receive a bulletin Tuesday that the fly-overs had already begun,
"We could expect at least a courtesy call to explain their rationale," Golds said.
A Metro Vancouver Parks spokesperson said the decision to aerial spray was weighed against the risk of letting the ground lie fallow until next spring, which could result in erosion and the spread of invasive weeds.
"This is the ideal time for hydro seeding and they had done 20% when they encountered very wet soil," Frieda Schade said. "They realized they couldn't continue."
To reduce the effects on birds, helicopter spraying was delayed until late morning, after most bird activity takes place, and Schade said a biologist on site the first day found waterfowl, raptors and other birds after the spraying was done.
"There's been no wholesale scaring away of the birds but probably there are local effects," she said, noting that acres of grassland remained untouched for the birds to use.
The aerial spraying was expected to conclude Friday, weather permitting, and a spokesperson from PMH1 said delaying the helicopter fly-overs until after 10 a.m. should minimize the disruption to birds. Max Logan also said it was an "oversight" that the park association wasn't informed about the spraying in advance but a construction bulletin was sent out to stakeholders.
dstrandberg@tricitynews.com
