Seventy or eighty years ago the homesteads in this area surrounded the yards and filled the windbreaks with the fast growing Siberian Elms. These are short-lived trees, which have all died over the past decade. They still provide good cover for wildlife, and they have been heavily used by the woodpeckers and other birds. However, with the high winds and strong storms we've been having, it was time for them to go. Last month the tree crew came and removed over a dozen in the yard and near the house. I had them leave some tall stumps on the trees I knew the woodpeckers favored, but the flickers have been most disappointed. I'm sad to see the flickers leaving the yard, but there are still plenty of dead trees in the windbreaks for them to enjoy.
such a lovely capture and interesting narrative. Let's hope your yard becomes alive with birds again as you have thoughtfully left some stumps for them.
For you challenge how about something on the theme of regeneration?