Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Pasadena Unified Halts Tree Removal at Education Center After Active Bird Nest Is Reported

Pasadena Unified School District has paused tree removal work at its Education Center after a community member reported an active bird nest in a tree scheduled for removal, according to a district statement issued Tuesday.

The district said tree removal at the Education Center was stopped immediately after the report was received. Pasadena Unified said it has retained a qualified wildlife biologist to inspect the identified tree and evaluate other trees within the fire-affected contaminated soil area at the site. The review will also be expanded to other campuses where tree removal is planned.

“Following a report from a community member identifying an active nest at the Education Center, tree removal at that site was immediately paused,” the district said in its statement.

The Education Center, located at 351 S. Hudson Ave. in Pasadena, is among district properties undergoing work related to the removal of fire-affected contaminated soil following the Eaton Fire.

The district said the wildlife biologist will review the identified tree as well as other trees within the contaminated soil area at the Education Center and at additional campuses where tree removal is planned.

“The biologist’s review will also extend to other school campuses where tree removal is planned,” the district said. “This review reflects both our obligations under applicable environmental laws and our unwavering commitment to conducting this work responsibly and transparently.”

The district did not identify the bird species involved or indicate how long the review is expected to take. It also did not specify when tree removal work at the Education Center might resume.

Separately, the community advocacy group Pasadena Roots identified the tree in question as Tree 48, a Coast Live Oak that the group described as approximately 50 feet tall and surrounded by asphalt. The district statement did not independently confirm those details.

Pasadena Unified also said contractors working on the project are trained to identify active bird nests and are prohibited from removing trees that contain them.

In addition, the district warned that contaminated work zones are posted as no-trespassing areas and said entering those locations may create legal liability and environmental health risks.

The information was released by Pasadena Unified in a public statement addressing community concerns regarding soil cleanup and tree-removal activities associated with fire recovery efforts.