Brandon Sehn of Davey Tree Services works to remove the branches from a spruce tree at the Ellis Bird Farm on Thursday. Fifteen large, dead spruce trees were removed by Davey Trees Services crew members and Fortis Alberta. The trees, planted in the mid 1950s by Charlie Ellis along the Prentis Road have succumbed to age and the drought of a few years ago and needed to be removed. Fortis Alberta offered to remove the trees as a donated service and Davey Tree Services also pitched in, donating their time for the project. As part of their normal operations the two companies have to destroy birds nests as they trim trees around power lines and felt that donating their services to remove these trees was a way of giving back to the community.