Endangered Birds’ Habitat Damaged

County workers clearing brush at a park in San Dimas “damaged or destroyed” the habitat for an endangered songbird species, apparently inadvertently but in possible violation of federal laws, federal officials said.

In a May 15 letter to the county, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said at least 1.6 acres of habitat for the coastal California gnatcatcher in Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park was “damaged or destroyed” by workers who were removing brush and grading land for fire control and trails.

Environmentalists said workers cut 18-foot-wide swaths through the area during the bird’s breeding season. The letter, addressed to Rodney Cooper, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, noted that a county report written before the brush was cleared acknowledged that the park was a haven for the gnatcatcher.

As compensation, the county has agreed to survey the park to assess whether any of the songbirds remain there and to restore the damaged area, according to the letter.