Montreal conservation group angered after Monarch butterfly fields mowed
A Montreal conservation group is baffled and frustrated after a field of shrubs, flowers, and, importantly, milkweed was mowed, threatening local bird populations and Monarch butterflies, they say.
But the Technoparc near the Trudeau airport, which owns the land, say that particular patch wasn't home to Monarchs nor ecologically sensitive, though the Technoparc has set aside other land for protection.
A group called Technoparc Oiseaux calls the land in question "Monarch fields" and says it was razed this week. It wants to know why, and whether the act violates the Migratory Bird Treaty in Canada and the U.S.
"We were dismayed to discover that the fields had been mowed in the middle of nesting season," reads a Technoparc Oiseaux release.
"We know, thanks to eBird and our own observations, that 150 species of birds can inhabit the Champ des Monarques and golf Dorval."
Environment and Climate Change Canada says migratory birds' nests are protected year-round and that "it is prohibited to damage, destroy or remove a non-active nest without a permit or an authorization."
The website and app eBird allows amateur and professional birders to log and track sightings by location. The Technoparc in Montreal is a popular location with birders catching common and rare species on a daily basis.
Woodpeckers, flickers, swallows, and killdeers are spotted there, as well as falcons, kestrels, and herons. The site drew dozens of eager birders with binoculars and cameras this fall when a scissor-tailed flycatcher showed up, far from its usual home in Texas.
Technoparc Oiseaux says that over 4,000 milkweed plants were shredded on the 19-hectare, abandoned federal land north of the Dorval Golf Course, leased by ADM (Aeroports de Montreal).
Before and after photos of the Monarch Fields in the Dorval Technoparc where a conservation group says thousands of milkweed plants were cut during nesting season. SOURCE: Technoparc Oiseaux
The land in question has been left untouched and undeveloped since 2012, and is "an invaluable ecological environment for both field fauna and flora and for its connectivity to sections of wooded wetlands," the group said.
The milkweeds are particularly important to Monarch butterflies' survival, it said. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed which hatch and the caterpillars eat the plant.
The group points out that other species of birds, snakes, mice, shrews, and insects live on the field.
The ADM didn't respond at first to the accusations. But on Monday, it said the patch of land was cut normally, not razed, and that it had little ecological value, even though it's recognized the ecological importance of some nearby spots.
"Two weeks ago, ADM’s maintenance crew mowed the grass in a section of the airport site, specifically because of the presence of ragweed and tall grass, which are nuisances," ADM wrote in a statement to CTV News.
"Our crews certainly did not 'raze' the land, as alleged by some groups, but cut the grass as is standard for normal airport site maintenance operations."
That patch of land used to be part of the golf course and is "brownfield land, zoned industrial," the airport authority said, not a wetland and not a plot that has sensitive species.
"There are no 'monarch fields' at this particular location," it wrote.
"The geographic location of the site, its history, and the low presence of milkweed do not have any critical habitat attributes. In fact, have been no reports of monarch butterflies at this location on the Monarch Mission website in 2022."
It pays careful attention to the local ecology, it said, pointing out it became the only airport authority in Canada to have created protected parkland when it opened Des Sources Ecological Park last year, after announcing the move in 2019.
Within the Des Sources park, the ADM has also put special effort into the Monarch population, it wrote, working with the group Miel Montreal to dedicate certain spaces to the butterflies and planting specially picked native seeds to 10 per cent of these set-aside areas.
But Technoparc Oiseaux said it wanted stronger protections.
In 2019, the City of Montreal became the first Canadian city to be granted GOLD monarch-friendly status, and the group asked this week why an area like one that got plowed is not also protected.
"We must act now to ensure that our green spaces are protected to ensure a healthy future to our children, our fauna and our flora," the group said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal doctors' breakthrough discovery about causes of cerebral palsy giving hope
A breakthrough discovery made by doctors at the Montreal Children's Hospital about the causes of cerebral palsy is giving new hope to one West Island family.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.