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Hug a Falcon, Band Your Trees !

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allikat:
I know this isn't about falcons but, I wanted to put this topic out to all who have elm trees nearby that need us!



IT'S TIME TO BAND YOUR ELM TREES TO AVOID "DUTCH ELM DISEASE"!!!  Let's do our part and BAND THE ELMS! 

birdcamfan:
Interestingly, our street, like most of Woseley, bands every tree (not just the elms) and have done so for all 20 years that I have lived there. I was walking to work this morning and as soon as I crossed to the north side of Portage avenue there was not a worm in sight! I am glad to hear that the worms are at least appreciated by our feathered friends.
Thanks.

eagle63_1999:
It makes sense one part of the ecosystem balance gets out of whack other things get out of whack.  I never thought about how an outbreak of a particular insect can be beneficial in the short term but not so beneficial in the long term. You are a wealth of knowledge TPC.

The Peregrine Chick:

--- Quote from: birdcamfan on June 16, 2008, 21:40 ---Hey Tracy,
Just a general question about birds in the "wild"...I cannot go out of my front door without being snagged by canker worm webs. (For those outside of Winnipeg, we have a major outbreak). I was wondering if an outbreak of this magnitude is actually helpful to our urban "wild", insect eating birds; supplying food for both adults and young alike. Is this like a huge free lunch for birds or do they turn their noses up at such fare?
Thanks again for allowing us to see nature up close and for answering all of our questions. I love watching the down-town birds. We have a merlin pair come back to Wolseley year after year and their shrieking calls makes me think of (and miss) the daily updates and view into the world of the peregrines.

--- End quote ---

Its an all you can eat passerine buffet Birdcamfan!  And great timing in that there are lots of chicks still in nests as well as just fledging.  Canker worms are also easy for young birds to catch.  Unfortunately, not so good for the trees.  The leaves get eaten, the trees are stressed (have to grow new leaves even though they may be eaten or forego the sunlight they need for photosynthesis), which means more tree illnesses and deaths which reduces the quantity and quality of the habitat which means less birds next year and less birds to buffet on canker worms ... vicious little cycle.  So if you want to save a falcon, put bands on your trees in the fall, and take them off in the spring.  Fewer canker worms, healthier trees; healthier trees, healthier habitat; healthier habitat, healthier bird populations; healthier bird populations, more all you can eat falcon buffets!  ;D

birdcamfan:
Hey Tracy,
Just a general question about birds in the "wild"...I cannot go out of my front door without being snagged by canker worm webs. (For those outside of Winnipeg, we have a major outbreak). I was wondering if an outbreak of this magnitude is actually helpful to our urban "wild", insect eating birds; supplying food for both adults and young alike. Is this like a huge free lunch for birds or do they turn their noses up at such fare?
Thanks again for allowing us to see nature up close and for answering all of our questions. I love watching the down-town birds. We have a merlin pair come back to Wolseley year after year and their shrieking calls makes me think of (and miss) the daily updates and view into the world of the peregrines.

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