[va-bird] Bewildered birds and human

Good morning VAbirders,

When a tree falls in a wildlife garden, not only is it heard, the sound 
reverberates.  The good soaking rain we've had for the last 24 hours proved 
to be the undoing of our beloved Redbud tree.  The misty dawn revealed an 
uprooted and toppled Redbud laying on its side.  Even though I've been 
sawing off dead sections of the tree for a decade, I didn't expect such a 
sudden demise.

Our Redbud has been in the process of dying almost since the day I planted 
it about 15 yrs ago.  That seems to be the way of Redbuds.  There is much 
beauty in their "deathspan."  As sections die off the bark peels and 
changes color, becoming redder and contrasting with the rest of the dark 
trunk.  Where dead branches have been removed the trunk contorts, 
stretching and bulging into intriguing shapes that add to the character and 
prettiness of the tree.

Whether our birds appreciated our Redbud's appearance, I can't say.  But 
the birds show their fondness for that tree even now as it lays 
fallen.  Over the years it grew into the perfect spot for a bird to 
perch.  Most birds that visited our yard have perched in it at some point, 
and some regulars "camped out" in it daily.  Brightly-hued warblers have 
bounced through it, mixed flocks of Cedar Waxwings and Robins have swooped 
down into it, feisty Hummingbirds have sat picket in it, Sharp-shinned 
hawks have lay in wait in it, and Pileated woodpeckers have drilled for 
bugs in it.

This morning as daylight grew and the birds arrived to sit in the Redbud, 
they seemed bewildered by the change in shape and space.  Blue Jays, 
Goldfinches, Hummingbirds, Downy Woodpeckers, Titmice, Wrens and more flew 
into the sideways tree and groped around the branches until finding a more 
or less horizontal perching spot.  The Blue Jays seemed particularly 
befuddled as they tried to sit in their favorite spots, only to find 
"their" branches were now vertical.  They floudered around stubbornly, 
perhaps not wanting to be any further away than usual from the peanut feeder.

Today we'll get out the saw and zzzzzzzzzz away at the branches, and drag 
them into a brush pile.  Perhaps we'll press some of its heart-shaped 
leaves into the pages of our big, fat dictionery.  That gorgeous, swirling 
trunk we'll keep for the woodpeckers.  It may take awhile, but I guess the 
birds and I will adjust to the newly-opened space.  And soon, another vine, 
shrub, or tree will grab at the chance to make good use of the "windfall" 
of increased sunlight and stake its claim on that little patch of garden.

Lori Markoff
Vienna
Fairfax County
canyon.eagle@xxxxxxxxxxx

You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email 
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.

Other related posts: