The popular Whimbrel makes a yearly stop at Whimbrel Point to feed enroute to the Arctic.
A large swath of prime lakefront at the wildlife-sensitive Colonel Samuel Smith Park has been taped off to allow large trucks carrying boulders as part of a three-year erosion control project.
Park users will not be able to access Lake Ontario near the foot of Kipling Avenue due to the heavy work.
Officials said the erosion measures have become necessary ‘due to severe weather events and wave action that poses a potential hazard to parklands and trails.’
The Toronto and Region Conservation Area (TRCA) said their 36-month task accommodates migratory bird movement and wildlife communities.
Whimbrel Point where the much-watched birds spend up to five days feeding and where the rocks have to be rehabilitated to prevent floods.
“The area is a prominent migration stopover point and nesting location for birds and is part of the City of Toronto’s Spring Bird Festivall,” according to the TRCA.
They said in a report the park provides habitat for many plant and animal species, including bird, insect and reptile species. It is a popular spot for dog walkers, photographers and nature enthusiasts.
Whimbrel Point is a popular spot in the park, where for three to five days a year, the birds use this area as a resting point on their migration to their breeding grounds in the Arctic.
The rocky headland is favoured by the Whimbrels, and the park hosts a “Whimbrel Watch” every year to celebrate their return to Whimbrel Point.
The heavy trucks have to travel near marshland which is home of turtles which are endangered species.
“While repairs to shoreline protection structures on Whimbrel Point are not anticipated to negatively impact habitat used by Whimbrels and other birds,” the TRCA said, adding they are ‘taking measures to ensure that work on the headland is scheduled around migration periods.’
Part of the project includes trucks driving along a trail that crosses through the wetland area.
To protect species in the wetland, fencing on either side of the trail will also include turtle fencing, which will prevent threatened turtles and other animals from entering the access route.
The TRCA will conduct visual inspections of the access route in the wetland area to ensure no species are harmed during work.
The construction and rock moving work will last three years in which sections of the large park will be taped off for trucks.
reas affected by construction will undergo restoration plantings and any areas where construction activities could impact sensitive habitat or wildlife will be considered.
The rock-carrying trucks will access the park through the Gatehouse Laneway, connecting to the southernmost trail via the paved pedestrian trail.
They said access to all or part of the project area and access route will be open outside work hours, which is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on weekends.