Monday afternoon I returned to the back field. This time it was to cut up and
remove a fallen Sassafras from the only route through the pine thicket. Twenty
two swallows were in close formation on the power line near my point of
destination. I think all were either Tree or Rough-winged Swallows but reported
most as swallow sp. Upon returning to the house, I sat a few minutes before
Alison accompanied me over the same route, sans ax and pruning saw. As I sat, a
Bluebird got a drink from the bird bath. I rarely see Bluebirds in the yard.
I often include incidental details in bird reports that may not seem ‘bird
related’, however, the food that birds eat is bird related. That fallen
Sassafras blocking the trail died a few years ago. So has every other large
Sassafras tree on this place, from laurel wilt disease. Young stump suckers are
all that remain of that species on this place. Young stump suckers don’t
produce berries. Weeds coming up on the trail include Japanese chaff flower,
which birds don’t eat. Habitat degradation of this sort, despite my intent for
this place to be ‘bird friendly’ is an ongoing concern of mine.
That habitat degradation isn’t merely happening on this place. A book I’m
currently reading says the Northern boreal forest is fast disappearing as an
ecotone. That’s where White-crowned Sparrows breed.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S120439017 ;<https://ebird.org/checklist/S120439017>
Frank Lyne
frank@xxxxxxxxxxx - near Dot in Logan County, KY
