Great Blue Heron and Bald Eagle Nest Trees

FAQs - Proposed amendments-OCP-Great Blue Heron Nest Trees

• Q: How are Great Blue Heron and Bald Eagle nest trees defined?

  A: Great Blue Heron and Bald Eagle nest trees include trees that:

      a) Have a nest, whether it is active or not
      b) Have a nest remnant (any remaining sticks are still visible)
      c) Have been previously identified by a Qualified Environmental Professional
          where the nest is currently down
      d) Have a nest under construction 

  Note for Great Blue Herons: site specific information on historic heron nest trees in the provincial data base may be unavailable. As such, a Development Permit may not be required under these circumstances provided a QEP assesses the site and the Provincial records, and is unable to determine if the former nest tree(s) exist.

• Q: How are Great Blue Heron and Bald Eagle nest trees regulated?

  A: The Provincial Wildlife Act regulates heron and eagle nests by restricting removal of nest trees and other disturbances to the nest itself. The City of Campbell River currently regulates an additional 60-metre area around Bald Eagle nest trees through the Bald Eagle Tree Development Permit Area in the City of Campbell River Official Community Plan. The proposed amendments seek to add Great Blue Heron nest trees to the City Development Permit Area. The updated guidelines would require a 60-metre buffer around heron nest trees within the urban containment boundary and a 200-metre buffer around heron nest trees outside of the urban containment boundary 

• Q: How do I find out if my property is near a Great Blue Heron or Bald Eagle nest tree?

  A: View this interactive map where you can search for your address and view Great Blue Heron and Bald Eagle nest tree locations. The online map also shows the location of the City’s Urban Containment Boundary. Most of the Bald Eagle nests are near the marine shoreline (their preferred food source) although there are a few nests inland. Currently, there are two known Great Blue Heron nest colonies in the Twillingate and Barlow Road areas and recently, a single heron nest has been confirmed at the shoreline near First Avenue.

• Q: Why is the City proposing updates to the regulations and adding Great Blue Heron nest trees?

  A: Great Blue Heron nest trees are being added to the regulations because herons are Blue-Listed (vulnerable) provincially, and are a federal species of Special Concern due to their small populations and productivity declines. This species is susceptible to eagle predation, human disturbance and development-related habitat loss. Development Permit Areas around nest trees help to slow habitat loss and manage the impacts of development. The proposed updates would also add clarity and improve user friendliness of the guidelines.

• Q: What are the changes being proposed?

  A: The proposed changes would offer additional clarity on the information that must be included in Qualified Environmental Professional assessment reports when the full 60-metre Development Permit Area cannot be maintained, including mapping requirements for buffer, roost and perch trees; revegetation and invasive plant management; and development timing windows. When setbacks are reduced from the full Development Permit Area, tree protection plans are also required to ensure that hazard tree risks are managed as nest trees age. Once a tree has a history of nesting, it remains under the Development Permit Area designation, even after the nest falls, until such time that the tree can no longer support a nest or the tree falls.

  • View all of the proposed changes to the Bald Eagle Tree Development Permit Area

• Q: Do the proposed changes secure future, recruitment nest tree habitat?

  A: The proposed changes would help to reduce the impacts related to development to known and current nest sites. However, as nest trees age out and deteriorate within existing development permit areas, there may not be sufficient replacement habitat available in the existing Development Permit Area and it is expected that the number of viable breeding territories will be reduced over time. As such, development permits areas are site specific and not the best tool for securing future nesting habitat. Implementation of the City’s urban forest management plan and the potential development of a tree bylaw would help to secure recruitment nest tree habitat in the future.

• Q: What activities trigger the Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron Nest Tree Development Permit process?

  A: Any development within the 60-metre Development Permit Area around the nest tree (or within 200-metres of a Great Blue Heron nest tree outside of the urban containment boundary), including soil disturbance or vegetation removal could trigger the Development Permit process and require a technical report by a Qualified Environmental Professional with expertise in bird assessments. This is the existing requirement for Bald Eagle nest trees under the Development Permit guidelines; the proposed amendments would add similar requirements for Great Blue Heron nest trees.

• Q: What is the process if I want to restore habitat in a Bald Eagle or Great Blue Heron Nest Tree Development Permit Area?

  A: Restoration of environmentally sensitive areas by planting native vegetation, removing non-native invasive vegetation and removing garbage is generally exempt from the Development Permit process. However, depending on the specifics and the scale of the restoration proposed, an environmental management plan may be required. For restorations on public lands, consider working under the umbrella of a stewardship group, such as Greenways Land Trust as they would be able to assist with oversight, land owner permissions and other resources. For restorations on private land, please contact Development Services, email planning@campbellriver.ca or phone 250-286-5725 to ensure works fit within the proposed exemption criteria.

• Q: What should I do if I think I might need a Development Permit?

  A: Prior to starting any work within a possible Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron Nest Tree Development Permit Area, contact the City’s Development Services Department to determine if a permit is required. Hazard tree removal may be exempt from the Development Permit process; however, written exemption permission would also need to be in place and other conditions may apply. Note that if the nest tree is considered hazardous and a nest is present, Provincial permits would also need to be in place. Sometimes, the Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron Development Permit Areas may overlap other Development Areas such as the foreshore, streamside or Hazardous Conditions (Steep Slopes).

  To contact Development Services, email planning@campbellriver.ca or phone 250-286-5725.

• Q: How do I comment on, or ask questions about, the proposed changes?

  A: If you missed the engagement sessions or have additional comments and questions, please email sustainability@campbellriver.ca. There will also be opportunities to provide written or in person comments as part of the Public Hearing process scheduled for the June 27, 2022 Council meeting, subject to direction from Council. As the Public Hearing nears, it will be advertised in the paper and on this website.

• Q: How are residents being informed about the proposed changes?

  A: FAQ's and additional content are being posted to this page. The City will use paid advertising in the local paper and media releases to get the word out.

• Q: How much does a Development Permit cost?

  A: A Bald Eagle Tree Development Permit costs $750. No fee increases are proposed under the proposed amendments to add Great Blue Heron nest trees to the Development Permit Area.

• Q: How do I apply for a Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron Nest Tree Development Permit?

  A: For more information about applying for a Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron Nest Tree Development Permit and other Development Permits contact Development Services by emailing planning@campbellriver.ca or phoning 250-286-5725.

• Q: Are there any consequences to disregarding the Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron Nest Tree Development Permit Area guidelines and exemptions?

  A: The City’s Environmental Protection Bylaw already regulates development near Bald Eagle nest trees. Amendments are being proposed that would include the addition of Great Blue Heron nest trees. If development, including soil disturbance or vegetation maintenance, occurs without a Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron Nest Tree Development Permit in place, a bylaw officer could issue a ticket and a fine.

  • View the proposed changes to the Environmental Protection Bylaw.