Against Port Expansion will host its second annual Peep-In this Saturday to highlight a magnificent natural spectacle - the northward migration of the western sandpipers.
The event is set for 10 a.m. on the dike adjacent to Roberts Bank.
Millions of birds will soon be flying north with the majority stopping over on Roberts Bank to feed and take on "fuel" to get them to their breeding grounds. They feed on biofilm in a concentrated area just north of the Port Metro Vancouver causeway.
This biofilm is a unique layer on the surface of the mudflats close into the shoreline that is only found in a few places, with the majority of the western sandpiper population favouring this small area on Roberts Bank.
Against Port Expansion says if Port Metro Vancouver gets the go ahead to build a second container terminal, most, if not all, of the biofilm could be destroyed. The group says some will be covered up by a widened causeway and the remainder risks being degraded or destroyed by altered tidal flows.
APE says if this happens Roberts Bank will be lost as a critical link in the international migratory chain of shorebird staging sites. It maintains without sufficient "refueling" here and with the next major stopover a long way north, many of the birds may fail to reach their breeding grounds, resulting in population level declines.
"To think that in a few years this entire species could be wiped out by Port Metro Vancouver's wanton destruction of a precious part of our environment is disgusting."
The Peep-In is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Brunswick Point. Those planning to attend are instructed to park at the end of River Road West and make the 20-minute walk along the dike to Brunswick Point.
Against Port Expansion is group of citizens that is concerned container terminal expansion on Roberts Bank will see the degradation of the quality of life for thousands of Lower Mainland residents; the industrialization of prime agricultural land; and the loss of globally-significant habitat for salmon, migrating birds and orca whales.
