Dear editor:
I would like to express my opposition to the proposed gravel pit.
I, and several colleagues, have been doing Christmas bird counts in the Bottrel area for over 30 years. We always enjoy the habitat and seeing the birds, usually about 20 species – a good number for the winter.
If this gravel pit goes ahead, clear-cutting a whole half section of forest, I can see that the number of species would diminish significantly. There would be little chance that the gray jays, the great gray owls or the great horned owls would still hang around.
I expect there would also be less chance of seeing any winter finches such as the common redpoll or the pine grosbeak.
Loss of habitat is the main reason I would like to add my voice in opposing this gravel pit proposal.
Donald Stiles
