New store a
threat to birds

I along with my neighbors have appealed the Sport Chalet project intended to be located in the Sav-On/Ralphs neighborhood shopping center near Janss and Moorpark roads. Our hearing date is tentatively set for April 5 at Thousand Oaks City Hall.

One of the concerns that shouldn’t be forgotten are the migratory and local birds that find shelter in the 30 to 40 mature pine and eucalyptus trees in the front and back of this proposed project. These trees are located in the existing parking lot and back buffer zones of the proposed project, and they intend to remove them to make room for more compact parking spaces.

Many people probably don’t know that our local and migratory birds, such as the great horned owls, sparrow hawks, peregrine falcons (fully protected migratory birds), blue jays, red tail hawks, doves, chickadees, crows, goldfinches, hummingbirds, sparrows, mockingbirds and woodpeckers, fly around the shopping center and find sanctuary in these 35-year-old mature towering trees and have done so for years.

What impact will it have on the devastation of their nests and young if removed? Many of the named birds are fully protected in the state of California under the California Department of Fish and Game and under federal laws.

No study can measure up to the hometown fact that the surrounding residents witness all of these different birds at many different times of the day (early morning, into evenings) from our own backyards and patios. These birds fly high into these mature trees and find shelter. Many of us enjoy viewing these birds from our backyards/patios, which face the back lot of this proposed project where many of these mature trees flourish.

This special haven of mature trees adds to the beauty of our views and aids in filtering the air and helps with pollution concerns. Unfortunately, our city is reaching buildout. We need to take a moment and realize the potential devastation we could be incurring to the wildlife here in Thousand Oaks.

Please make note of this worthy cause.

Nancy Trier

Thousand Oaks