The city is investigating after it had to remove a tree that was home to one of the 鈥渕ost noticeable eagle鈥檚 nests in Surrey.鈥�

Surrey鈥檚 manager of trees Nadia Chan told Peace Arch News that she received a call Tuesday afternoon that a tree, located on private property at the corner of Croydon Drive and 20 Avenue, had been partially cut and was at risk of falling.

A city arbourist visited the site that afternoon and determined that the tree was at high risk of falling because it had been cut on both sides, and 鈥渁lmost entirely the way through,鈥� Chan said.

Surrey eagle biologist David Hancock, owner of , was there to supervise the removal of the tree Tuesday evening.

鈥淚 had no alternative (but) to say that it had to come down,鈥� Hancock told PAN, adding that the tree was hanging on by two inches of wood.

Hancock said he鈥檚 known of the eagle nest, which could be easily spotted from Highway 99, for the past eight years. It has been used to raise bald eagles every year since then, he added.

Chan said the city鈥檚 first priority was to secure the area. Crews began closing the road, and removing the tree at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Chan said an investigation has been opened by both the city and province, and they are yet to have any leads on who may be responsible for damaging the tree. She said the city notified the province because the damage caused to the tree is an infraction of the Wildlife Act.

鈥淪o many people drive by and see it so easily. The tree and the area around it was slated to be saved. The fact that (someone) just said 鈥榯he hell with it, I鈥檓 just going to pay the fine and cut it down鈥欌�� that鈥檚 sheer greed,鈥� Hancock said.

Hancock said there were no eagles in the tree when it was cut down, but he did see an eagle nesting in the tree on Sunday (July 22).

鈥淭he nest is an active nest. It鈥檚 raised young every year.鈥�

While the tree was being removed, Hancock said a group of neighbours gathered to see what was going on.

鈥淚t was not pleasant, but everybody behaved themselves.鈥�

Chan said the city did not issue any permits for the removal of the tree.

鈥淭he person who started the removal complicated matters. It was a dangerous removal. The company that we had on site did an amazing job at bringing that tree down safely,鈥� Chan said.

Hancock said the person who initially cut the tree wedged out a section and then cut through the other side.

鈥淎ll of a sudden, it wasn鈥檛 going to go in the direction he wanted so he abandoned the area and got the hell out of there,鈥� Hancock said. 鈥淚t was about to fall on the power lines.鈥�

Chan agreed that the power lines were a concern.

鈥淣ow Surrey doesn鈥檛 have its showpiece bald-eagles nest. One of the most productive. It鈥檚 kind of sad,鈥� Hancock said.

Wednesday afternoon, Surrey resident Brian Thorsteen was walking near the fallen tree. A pile of twigs and feathers, which used to be an approximate five-foot-by-five-foot eagles nest, was scattered across the ground.

Thorsteen said he didn鈥檛 want to take a closer look because 鈥渋t makes me feel sick.鈥�

He told PAN he was in the area at approximately 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, and could hear juvenile eagles crying from a nearby tree.

Hancock said he鈥檚 interested in rallying the community together to build a new eagle nest in the area.