Some fear that Taylor’s fireworks could impact the heron colony

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — Two years after video surfaced showing hundreds of birds startled by fireworks, flying into power lines and causing a transformer to explode, some in Taylor are still concerned.

The island and lake in Taylor’s Murphy Park are home to thousands of herons and egrets. KXAN previously reported that many birds were killed in the incident.

Herons are migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This means that anything that potentially harms a bird is against the law.

“In 2022, it was just obvious the impact the fireworks had on the colony,” said Caley Zuzula, program manager at Travis Audubon.

Following the outcry, the City of Taylor consulted with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which recommended that the city relocate the fireworks launch site more than 1,000 feet from the herons’ habitat or breeding colony. Previously, the site was only 200 feet from most birds’ nesting sites.

“When fireworks are displayed in close proximity to birds, especially at night when they are resting, it causes them a lot of stress,” Zuzula said. “They panic and may abandon their young or (become stressed) and collide with a building, which is another big problem.”

Zuzula said the noise can cause some people to become so stressed that they can have a heart attack and die.

In a statement to KXAN, a Taylor spokesman said there have been “no known harmful effects on birds” since the fireworks site was relocated.

In 2022, fireworks at Murphy Park sparked concerns that a population of protected migratory birds that nest in the park could be harmed. In 2023, the fireworks were moved more than 1,000 feet from the nesting site, which was approved by Texas Parks and Wildlife. The 2023 fireworks display took place with no known harmful effects on the birds. Tomorrow’s fireworks display will take place at the same location.

Spokesperson for the City of Kyle

Zuzula said that while she trusts the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s recommendation, she is still concerned that the fireworks at the current location could impact the birds.

“Even if the fireworks are not directly near the breeding colony, if they are nearby they are harmful to the birds and other wildlife,” she said.