Often a dead or dying tree with a gaping hole appears to be ready for the ax. But wait, when that tree is burned (through prescribed burning programs) or felled to make bike paths, roads, or driveways, wildlife suffer. We all have read some of the prolific children's literature featuring homes in a hollow tree for a bunny, squirrel, raccoon...and the list goes on to include the other forest mammals-deer mice, martens, fishers, porcupines, weasels, and black bear. ( One of Jean Craighead George's first nature books was titled, Hole In The Tree. Warm blooded forest denizens are only a few of the wildlife that depend on tree hallows. Songbirds like the chickadees and woodpeckers also make their own cavities in trees and white-breasted nuthatches use tree holes already formed. For the ubiquitous chickadees throughout North America dead or fallen trees offer safe nesting places.
Taking this one step further, one might ask how do these little black and gray and white birds affect our environment? Chickadees eat bad bugs year round. Who does the bark beetle fear as he munches his way from the western states to the East at an alarming rate? That's right. The little chickadee.
Share this gentle environmental nursery rhyme with a child. Then talk about how this tiny songbird has become a leader in the fight against global warming. This friendly backyard bird is fun to watch and eagerly comes to feeders filled with black seed oil or thistle. With some patience, you can train them to eat from your hand. To learn more about this issue, click here.
Tiny mountain pine beetle,
I wish you could see
Just one needle
But you are hungry and mean.
You nibble a path on your way
Green to red
Then all are gray.
Read All About It!
A Chipmunk At Hollow Tree Lane is a picture book by the Smithsonian.
