A recent discovery of 38 Bank Swallow burrows in the coarse processed kimberlite (CPK) pile at Gahcho Kué mine caused a large area to be blocked from active work.

The burrows are tiny holes dug into two areas along the north and west banks of the CPK pile. According to a press release, monitoring determined that about 27 are in use. The burrows are observed daily by the site environmental team, which deploys cameras to capture bird activity and reports findings to regulatory agencies.

For one set of burrows, an access road around the north end of the CPK pile is closed to regular traffic. For the other burrows, a large area at the top of the pile and another area directly in front of the burrows will be out of bounds until the young swallows have hatched and flown away. Deposition of coarse processed kimberlite can still continue in other areas.

According to De Beers, 51% owner of Gahcho Kué, Bank Swallows are listed as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

Additionally, a number of Cliff Swallow nests in the rafters of a structure used to transfer ammonium nitrate are also being monitored, though the use of the facility is continuing as regular activities will not disturb or damage the nests.

It’s standard practice for De Beers Group to close off areas to work when nesting birds are discovered.

In 2017, a drill rig at Gahcho Kué was out of service for five weeks after discovery of a robin’s nest. In 2015, a Herring Gull nest delayed construction of a dike at Gahcho Kué, and in 2012 an area of the Victor Mine pit was out of service so that swallows nesting in the pit wall could finish their nesting season.

The mine reported 17,700 bird observations during 2020.