Seventy-eight trees along Admiralty Way will be removed but egret nests in those trees will be protected, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors said on Tuesday.
The trees, mostly ficus, have damaged the road surface over the years and they will be replaced with 83 smaller trees native to California as well as lighting along the new medians.
Some residents were concerned about the egrets that nest in the existing trees, as unlike other species, they return to the same nest year after year.
The county will hire a biologist to examine nests in trees scheduled for removal, and if birds are found in nests, workers will either “wait out the bird” or preserve the tree, according to William Winter, deputy director of the Public Works Department.
The 78 trees in question are not in vital nesting areas, according to Marica Hansocm, executive director of Wetlands Defense Fund. Although she opposes other Marina del Rey plans, she is not against the Admiralty Way repavement.
Birds returning for next year’s nesting season will “have to adapt and find another tree,” according to Winter.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the $7 million project in a 4-0 vote. Supervisor Don Knabe was absent.
