Does this image make you want to get a chainsaw or a pair of binoculars? Due to modern conditioning, we assume dead trees are no longer useful to us and therefore become something that needs to be removed. What is often not known is that eliminating dead trees from our backyards can take away a key component of wildlife habitat. Barring any safety issues, dead trees are accused of creating a negative aesthetic in the community. A homeowner can feel pressure from the neighborhood for allowing a dead tree to stand. Mankind’s strong misperception that nature has to be “cleaned up”, by removing natural items that do not look orderly to us, can cause a real loss of habitat. For these “dead” trees are actually full of benefits, providing habitat and food for birds and insects before ending up replenishing the soil for new life. The
Saw many ibis in Naples FL this month.