When I heard those Gang Gangs in the bush on the other side of our fence, I had an idea. Yes it might be a bit out there , like so many of my ideas, but as I know so many people (and councils) cut down old , dead trees that are desperately needed by so many birds. Why can't we plant dead trees in our gardens. They could even be sold in nurseries. (I know you can buy short bits of hollow branches and hang them in a tree, but this would be so much more attractive? What do you think? Could be a business in that, selling dead trees.
(sorry about the bad photos, the tree was far away and about 20m high)
Haha,i don't think that would work at all, M-L. Most people pay money to get rid of their dead trees,because in their minds the trees are totally worthless,ugly and take up space - although they are very valuable
Totally agree, M-L. Every dead tree cut down is a potential nesting site lost.
I've got friends who have a much loved dead branch they always use as a Christmas Tree, artfully decorated for the season. Not a lot of nesting going on but it looks pretty good. I'm sure there'd be a market for them
Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/
Certainly there is scope for placing dead trees in gardens. Or at least parts of them. Whole dead trees tend to be large and would cost muchas moolas to relocate. So many potential nesting sites are destroyed in land clearing. Gardening Australia could take a lead here by showing examples of how dead wood can contribute to a garden and to bird habitat (without attracting termites??). If a market develops for large pieces of dead wood, then land clearers are more likely to keep them for sale. Similarly there is a developing market for native bees and tree cutters are hopefully seeing the increasing opportunity to save hives and sell them.
I'm concerned that if there was a market for dead trees we'd see the wholesale slaughter of dead trees in the wild as rapacious profit makers see another opportunity to make a fast buck. Another idea might be for the government to pay dead tree owners to preserve their dead trees for as long as they'll stand up. A dead tree rent might be the go. After all, the government paid land owners heaps to destroy their bush & forests so there's no reason at all why the situation can't be reversed, especially now that we know how valuable biodiversity is & how valuable dead trees are to biodiversity.
That is a brilliant idea Woko, I don't think you would get any money out of any government
, it would be more likely dedicated people who care for the environment. A slogan like: Keep a dead tree alive could kick off a new movement.
M-L
I like that slogan, Araminta! Keep a dead tree alive. It has a nice feel about it.
The slim likelihood of any government paying a dead tree rent to landowners is a sad reflection on governments' priorities. Plenty of tax breaks to destroy the bush & forest when we knew not what we were doing yet probably no tax breaks to protect it when we have lots of information about the bad effects of bush & forest destruction on both the environment & our economy. Is there a twisted logic there?
The Victorian Tree Industry Organisation runs workshops for the councils and arborists on tree habitats. Very interesting too.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
I hope the organisation is right behind the Keep a Dead Tree Alive campaign,Kathie!
They are Woko, as long as they aren't in danger of coming down, having rot or white ants, etc. They teach councils about the importance of habitat for birds and wild life. It's really great to see.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
I was a distance away from this one and think all the leaves are from surrounding trees, but this would be an important habitat tree I'm sure. It's on a neighbour's property.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Keep a dead tree alive. Brilliant, Araminta. You should be in marketing.
A wonderful & precious hollow, kathie. I recall now that you've posted before about the Victorian Tree Industry Organisation. I hope information about their protection of dead trees activities is becoming widely spread.
They are a great group and there are a couple of others here in Australia like them. One in Qld and another which is a national group. I run the Secretariat for the VTIO and have been doing that for nearly a year now. I thought they were just tree loppers but have learnt they're much more than that and very passionate about what they do. There are tree physicians amongst others in the group.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria