Butterflies v. Birds in Sausalito

A plan to remove a grove of trees to protect a rare butterfly in the Marin Headlands has got birdwatchers squawking.

Park officials say the tree removal will help the endangered mission blue butterfly by creating new habitat atop Hawk Hill, located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The plan is to remove nonnative cypresses and other trees in August and plant lupine, which serves as habitat for the butterflies.

But the grove is a popular spot for birdwatchers, who say Hawk Hill is a perfect for spying hawks, falcons, eagles and other bird species as they migrate.

National Park Service spokesman Rich Weideman says the birds' flight patterns will not be significantly changed by the removal because there are other groves nearby.

The tree removal is expected to cost between $500,000 and $1 million.


(3/9/10) (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)