Oakland housing project will remove trees home to official city bird colony

A plan to build 64 affordable housing units in downtown Oakland will require removing four large Indian laurel ficus trees that host a significant colony of black-crowned night herons, CBS News Bay Area reported.

These trees, located at 12th and Harrison streets, have supported nearly 100 nests during the breeding season and represent the largest urban bird rookery in Oakland. The black-crowned night heron is the city's official bird, chosen for its resilience.

The trees are slated for removal due to their aggressive root systems damaging sidewalks and property, the risk of falling branches injuring birds and people, and the nuisance caused by bird droppings, which coat sidewalks and cars.

Bird advocates express concern about the impact on the herons, noting that injured chicks often fall onto hard concrete below, requiring treatment at specialized facilities like the International Bird Rescue Center in Fairfield.