Questions surround swallow nests at Hard Rock
What appears to be swallow nests at Lake Tahoe Hard Rock. Photo/Elias Klaich
By Kathryn Reed
Swallow nests at Hard Rock Lake Tahoe were there one day and essentially gone the next, according to South Shore residents who documented it with photos.
This could be a big deal because federal law protects swallows.
“If there are eggs or young in those nests, it is illegal to bring down a nest,” Chris Nicolai, regional migratory bird biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Reno, told Lake Tahoe News. “Right now there is no way to get a permit of removal (of birds) or nests unless for human safety. Depredation permits for swallows would be pretty tough.”
In Nevada, it’s possible to get a permit to take down an inactive nest. This differs from California law where even inactive nests are protected.
“No one is aware of any swallow nests being removed,” Jen Eastwood, spokeswoman for Hard Rock Lake Tahoe, told Lake Tahoe News.
However, a group of friends who had been golfing at Edgewood Tahoe saw what they say is the destruction of swallow nests. This spring they first saw about 80 swallows from the sixth hole.
“I watched the swallows then fly to the exterior of the Hard Rock Hotel and build their nests,” Ed Bellow told Lake Tahoe News. Two weeks later “I saw two Hard Rock Hotel employees using a power washer to wash down the swallow nests in the area of Hard Rock’s valet parking. Keep in mind they were not old nests from last year, as the Hard Rock Hotel repainted to a different color this year. At the time we were there, the swallows were rebuilding those nests that were removed.”
While Bellow is a law enforcement officer in California, he does not have jurisdiction in Nevada. He reported the incident to California officials.
Elias Klaich took pictures of what he and Bellow saw.
“I saw them rebuilding nests. I saw (nest) debris on the ground and I saw debris on the side of the building that was freshly painted,” Klaich told Lake Tahoe News. “Maybe (the Hard Rock) told the contractor to tell their people to do it so they didn’t have to be directly involved.”
Swallows fall under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
“The law basically is to protect declining populations mostly due to hunting,” Nicolai said. “The interpretation is expanding and expanding, so no taking (of these animals) is authorized without a permit.”
Remember when they did that to the building when they tore down Monk’s Pizza back in 19something?
Disappointing and disturbing that Hard Rock would not be a good steward of the area. But not surprising.
Vegas mentality.
I was told to nock down some swallow nests where I used to work. I refused to do so, so they got some other guy to do it that worked there.
A little respect for wildlife and one another would be a nice change. OLS
Is it true that first they don’t pay their contractors and now they are destroying Federally protected swallows’ nests? What else have they done that we don’t know about yet? It is common knowledge that swallows’ nests are protected.
If they don’t want nests in a certain area, they can install devices that will safely deter nest building–IF properly installed and maintained
Any fines going to be assessed?
What’s with all the Hard Rock bashing going on.
Would you rather the Horizon still be there?
Someone made a mistake. Certainly not the end of the world.
An awful lot of conjecture here I think.
Ravens are also protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. And they’re the main predator of the Sage Grouse.
Just ’cause the feds make a rule about something doesn’t mean it is a sensible one.
Ski bum,
I can remember the event you posted about. One of the most ironic events in my life,
When I dove by on my way to work I could see the LTWC folks and some government types. They were starting to pose for the photo opp.
I worked in Round Hill next to Stan Hansen and his development crew for American Ski.
I was having a cup of coffee with him when the maintenance man for the square used a large steam cleaner to knock down a couple hundred nests in the Safeway entrance.
Stan just shook his head.
Rooster I agree that having the Hard Rock is better than what was there, what hurt the Hard Rock and its owners was not paying the local contractors that worked 24/7 to help them open. They started this bashing by not being good to the locals, so everything they do going forward is going to be a target.
Separate from the swallows…. but perhaps attitude related, I wonder why there was not more public acknowledgement or discussion about the power failure interruption during the Aerosmith outdoor music event last Friday.
My cynical thought is collusion among the powers that be…and the advertisement driven media… that we will not talk about such things as it might discourage people from dropping large bucks on tickets to these events in the future?
Cranky,
That fire was talked about: https://www.laketahoenews.net/2015/07/fire-cuts-power-to-parts-of-harveys/
And it was a different venue.
LTN staff
There’s other ways to
Deter swallow building besides They eat insects and mosquitoes all day long leave them be …. Bring back the high Sierra casino
Great name Mightydook! Thumbs up for the name alone, if we had the option!
Sunriser2, Stan Hansen from Heavenly Valley? I used to work with him back along time ago.
Save the swallows and don’t destroy their nests. OLS
OLS,
Yes that Stan Hansen. He had a quarter billion dollar project on hold because of a couple of swallow nests. Then watches as hundreds of them are washed away.
Nicolai: Who the heck is hunting swallows?
Admin: How can you say a declining population of small non game birds is mostly due to hunting?
Admin-
Begging your pardon, but I was not suggesting the swallows at Hardrock were connected to Harvey’s, only that it seems screw-ups at Casinos are rarely given much notice. I was in one of the Chambers a while back and they are definitely not in favor of any negative press even if deserved.
I did read the fire article, and it did not mention at all the fact that the Harvey’s outdoor concert went dark too. Was my information about the concert interruption in error?
I was not in attendance, but my information was from an “ordinarily” reliable source.
When looking into this group’s stewardship, also look to see if they have applied for depredation permits in recent years to destroy beavers at Edgewood golf course. Beavers are actually good for the environment and certainly should be respected as co habitants at Lake Tahoe. The beaver deceivers installed at Taylor Creek are an example of how wildlife can co exist w human interests without the need to destroy non human life. I applaud the men who documented and reported this.
Luna49, thank you for the acknowledgment of the work we of The Sierra Wildlife Coalition have done at Taylor Creek. The USFS has been a wonderful partner in allowing us to work towards a goal that benefits both native species, federal agencies, AND the overall environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
And as to the swallows, they probably do a better job at mosquito control then I or any other Vector Tech who gets paid to do mosquito abatement!