More public concern and debate has popped off surrounding the Fairy Creek watershed following multiple reported sightings of the Western Screech Owl..According to Nature Conservancy Canada, the bird of prey is split into two subspecies, both of which nest in existing tree cavities created by other birds, such as woodpeckers, and depend on the riparian deciduous forests in southern BC as habitat..Despite frequently being reported as “endangered,” both populations of the Western Screech Owl as are classified as “threatened” under the federal Species at Risk Act..An endangered species means it is facing imminent extirpation or extinction, whereas a threatened species is “likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.”.Predation by the Barred Owl is thought to be the primary cause of their significant population declines on the south coast, and while logging is believed to have a negative impact on the Western Screech Owl population, its scale is inconclusive..“It has been suggested that forestry operations negatively affect Screech Owl habitat on the British Columbia coast both by the removal of habitat through timber harvesting and through the removal of dead trees and snags which serve as potential nest cavity trees,” writes Richard J. Cannings and Helen Davis in a 2007 report..“Yet, the relationship between Western Screech Owls and forestry operations has not been closely studied.”.If a nest is discovered where Teal Jones is logging, the operation may be temporarily stopped..In April 2021, the federal government suspended operations in a one-kilometre section of Trans Mountain Corporations oil pipeline expansion project in BC. The four-month halt was ordered after the discovery of hummingbird nests during tree cutting..Under the Migratory Birds Act, a situation is not allowed where migratory birds may be killed, captured, taken, or their nests damaged or disturbed..As far as the Western Screech Owl goes, it is an offence for anyone to harm, molest, or destroy a nest that is occupied by a bird or egg, as set forth in the BC Wildlife Act..“We have a law in Canada to protect wildlife at risk,” said Charlotte Dawe, Conservation and Policy Campaigner of the Wilderness Committee in a news release..“A federal order to protect Western Screech Owl habitat is possible if BC fails on habitat protection. Both the BC government and Teal Jones need to take recovery of at risk wildlife seriously or risk federal intervention.”.As of Tuesday, the Lake Cowichan RCMP have arrested 151 individuals in relation to the Fairy Creek injunction order; at least nine of whom were previously arrested..All arrested persons were transported to the Lake Cowichan RCMP Detachment for processing..“When old growth gets destroyed for short term economic profits we lose critical biodiversity habitat forever,” said Mark Worthing, Coastal Projects Lead at Sierra Club BC in a press release..“Right now the only thing standing between Western Screech Owls and Teal Jones chainsaws is forest defenders who are getting dragged off in cuffs by the RCMP..“With the absence of any endangered species legislation in BC and a rarity of political leadership on the biodiversity crisis, it feels like the environment minister is also a rare and endangered species.”.One RCMP officer told the Western Standard they don’t necessarily disagree with the demands of protesters, but the “dramatic language and tendency for media to ignore nuance only makes the situation worse.”.Reid Small is a BC correspondent for the Western Standard.,.rsmall@westernstandardonline.com
