Village Matters

It’s a Jungle Out There

Never before have I heard so many bird conversations in the Torrey pine across the street from us. We have a pair of Cooper’s hawks that must have a nest there. We’ve seen them eating their breakfast of some other fluffy bird on the branches high above our porch. The mockingbirds call and circle. They are not happy about Mr. and Mrs. Hawk moving into the neighborhood. Sometimes they seem to be imitating the hawk’s cak-cak-cak-cak-cak call. Then there are all the other chirps and songs that I am not experienced enough to identify. To me it sounds like we live in the jungles of Africa.

Right now we are in the midst of nesting season, when birds seek out the safest and often tallest trees to hatch and care for their young. Our neighborhood has fewer and fewer tall trees every year. Fred Lang’s grove of Torrey pines was removed several years ago. We lost one tall eucalyptus and one Torrey pine when the Council invalidated South Laguna’s heritage trees and their owners felt free to cut them down. And just a couple of weeks ago a local architect had his three large Torrey pines removed from his property at the top of Third Avenue. So it’s no wonder we have an unprecedented population of birds contending for our neighborhood pine, one of the few tall trees left.

All native birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and the California Fish and Game Code. “Take” of birds, eggs or nests is prohibited. Violations are misdemeanors subject to as much as six months in jail and a $15,000 fine. Nesting season is from Feb. 1 through Aug. 15. Pruning and removing trees during this season risks disturbing nests and violating the federal and state laws.

Laguna Beach is a designated bird sanctuary, yet we allow tree pruning and removal to go on unregulated. It’s clear from the tree losses and tree removal requests we’ve had recently that we need a comprehensive tree protection ordinance. Such an ordinance would include requiring permits for removing trees. In this way staff can check to see if the tree is a heritage tree, has been designated to be preserved as part of a Design Review approval, is a city-maintained tree, or is in the public right of way. Neighbors would be notified. Alternative solutions would be found where appropriate. Gone would be the days of panicked calls, “The tree service with their chainsaws and chippers have just pulled up. I think they’re going to remove this beautiful tree in our neighborhood! What can I do?”

Severe pruning (for example, removing all the leaves and leaving stubs) would be prohibited. Pruning or removal during nesting season would be restricted.

As we have seen with the declining health of the city tree adjacent to the recently remodeled Urth Caffé, we also need to address protection of trees during construction. Filling, cutting and compaction in the root zone should be avoided, and protection from damage from vehicles should be provided.

Lastly we need to provide for future generations of tall trees. If trees need to be removed, we should find locations for replacing them. Design Review should allow for some tall trees to be planted and not restrict all future tree heights to roof heights. Views and trees together are key to making Laguna, Laguna and to providing bird habitat.

Let’s listen to the birds talking. They’re telling us their habitat is becoming too small; the buildings and pavement need to be balanced with abundant trees, plants and wildlife, creating a hospitable urban jungle.

Landscape architect Ann Christoph lives near a towering Torrey pine.