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
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Documents reveal Canada praised Haitian sanctioned over alleged gangland connections
A Canadian diplomat and an RCMP officer heaped praise and gratitude on a sanctioned Haitian businessman that Global Affairs accuses of gangland connections, after he allowed a helicopter airlift of Canadian citizens and police at his luxury golf course last month, emails provided by his lawyers suggest.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Minister said 'hundreds' of Canadians might use Gaza visa. More than 7,500 applied.
An immigration lawyer in Toronto says new figures from the federal government show just how 'grudging' Ottawa's efforts have been to rescue Canadians' family members from the war in the Gaza Strip.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.