The Center Of My Birding Activity
I recently decided to take down the 40+ foot sassafrass tree that was in the center of my backyard. I held out as long as I could for my birds. With feeders and nesting boxes on both sides of the yard, it quickly became the hub of activity. If a bird came into my backyard, there was a 75% chance it would perch in that tree while deciding what it was going to do there. Any time I heard a new bird in my backyard I only had to scan that tree to find it. My bluebirds spent an eternity in that tree while feeding and fledging their babies. I have woods directly behind my back fence which has helped bring more birds into the area but that one tree was where everybody ended up eventually. My squirrels also used it as one of their freeways to get to the wooded area.
It was hit hard this last year by some kind of insect which must have invited disease because it had no leaves at all this year. When the tree surgeon came last week he agreed that it was dead and therefore a danger to my house. They came out yesterday and took it down. It was sad for me to see nearly twenty years of life taken down in under twenty minutes.
Now, it’s gone and I’m concerned.
I’m concerned that my birds may be put off and decide other yards are safer with easier access to trees much closer to feeders and water. I’m concerned the diehard ones that stay may be of interest to the occasional Cooper’s hawk that makes rounds from time to time. Finally, I’m concerned that birds passing through will just stay in the back woods for cover and I may never see them.
Tell Me I’m Wrong
Leave me a comment if you’ve had a large tree in your backyard removed and let me know what changes you’ve seen, if any. I need a little consoling right now that everything will be OK.
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