Cliff Swallow Nest Management – Culvert Project

Close-up inspection of an active cliff swallow nest inside a culvert using a handheld mirror to assess eggs, demonstrating Halker’s environmental compliance expertise in migratory bird protection and construction impact mitigation.

Prior to a culvert rehabilitation project, Halker’s environmental team identified the potential for nesting conflicts with cliff swallows—a migratory species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Although pre-season inspections and removal of inactive mud nests were completed, the swallows returned and quickly rebuilt active nests within the project area.

Bald Eagle Protection

Bald eagle perched in a tree with marked nest locations, illustrating Halker’s wildlife protection services and expertise in environmental compliance, habitat assessments, and federally protected species monitoring.

During bridge maintenance activities, crews discovered an active bald eagle nest containing two eaglets within the federally protected ½-mile buffer zone. The unexpected finding presented immediate regulatory and operational challenges, as continued work could risk disturbance to a protected species and violate wildlife protection laws.