Banff lodge fined $27K for destroying endangered swallow nests

A lodge in Banff National Park has been fined $27,000 after maintenance staff removed and destroyed an egg and four barn swallow nests.

Barn swallows were designated as a threatened species under the federal Species at Risk Act last fall.

Simpson's Num-Ti-Jah Lodge near Lake Louise, Alta., was charged with violating migratory bird rules and the Canada National Parks Act.

The federal Environment Ministry says the lodge pleaded guilty to three offences in provincial court this week.

The fine will go to a federal environmental damages fund.

Authorities had received a report in August 2016 that the nests had been removed.

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