September 14, 1998

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Director of Development & Support - Toronto Parks and Recreation, City Hall Office

Subject:Request for Tree Removal - 30 Hemlock Avenue (Ward 26 - East Toronto)

Purpose:

An application has been received from Councillor Jakobek for City Council to consider removal of a City owned Norway maple tree located at the above noted address. Councillor Jakobek reports that the tree attracts over 500 starlings during the summer months. The noise and mess from these birds are causing distress to the property owners of 28 and 30 Hemlock Avenue

Recommendation:.

That as a first option Forestry staff significantly thin the tree crown to try and preserve the tree while discouraging the starlings from roosting there leaving tree removal as a second option if pruning is not successful.

Comments:

The tree in question is a 102 cm diameter Norway maple which is in good condition and valued at $7,648.60.. Forestry staff inspected the tree on August 27, 1998 and found that the tree does not qualify for routine removal.

Forestry have been working with the property owners for several years and have tried sound repellents such as an air horn and recorded starling distress calls to deter the starlings from roosting in the tree. These efforts had limited success.

Removal of the City owned tree will probably not solve the problem because the starlings will roost in other trees around the property. Flocks of starlings often congregate in large numbers when trees form a dense crown. This particular tree does have a very dense crown. A possible solution is to prune the tree significantly to create a more open crown.

Contact Name:Warren Quan

Email: wquan @ city.toronto.on.ca

Tel: 416-392-1940

Fax: 416-392-6657

Susan Richardson

Director, Development & Support

WQ:WQ

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