The beginning of the felling atrocity and tragedy--an abomination
Australian pines provide nesting habitat for bald eagles, anhingas, great horned owls, red shouldered hawks, cormorants, great blue herons, yellow crowned night herons and, occasionally, ospreys; perching/ roosting habitat for pelicans, bald eagles, ospreys and many species of songbirds; and year-round food for a variety of native and migratory birds.
They also do a first class job of providing shade while still allowing significant light as well as the beautiful colors of the sky to beam through. Their slender trunks allow the sea breezes to flow along the ground unhindered. The soft sound of the wind singing through their limbs is unmatched by any other tree. Australian pines do not require watering, fertilizing or maintenance, other than occasional "topping." The needles” they drop make a perfect matting around picnic tables and a treasure house full of surprises that captivate inquisitive children.
Source: Save the Florida Australian Pines
Our tree had Muscovies that built nests in the cavity over the years. One morning I watched 8 little ducklings hop down from the tree and cross Lake Osborne with its mother. I was there to stop the traffic so that they could safely cross. All the birds nested there or dropped by like the occasional pelican and we watched an Osprey build a nest. The birds kept flying back to "their" tree that day. It was a wonderful tree. RIP.
This never should have happened by a condo board that caved in to a person who was wrapped up in herself giving every excuse in the book that it was going to "save" the building and "save" her head and her elderly mother's head. The city never should have changed the rules this one time (we all know some condo boards and property owners can be obnoxious) using the excuse that this was an invasive species. The building was built in 1966. How did we all survive this tree that has been growing forever?
14 comments:
You're right, trees should be protected from the hatchet. Government sticks its nose into everything. I don't give a rat's ass if this kind of tree is considered invasive. They are all over the roads and scenic areas. people really need to get a life and stop coming up with every excuse in the world to outlaw them and cut them down.
The real government is the condo commando's in this story
Much to be said about that, anonymous at 9:33 however, it was the city that issued the permit after telling me for months that there were big problems with ever issuing it. They found a way.
There is a reason why invasive plants should be removed. Australian pines don't provide habitat for native species, they have extremely shallow roots, so they will fall over, and they crowd out native plants.
I say "let it live" and plant Kudzu and Brazilian Pepper all around it.
Yeah, anonymous, that's why this tree has lived here longer than I've been alive and managed to live and stand tall through every hurricane. Thanks for your input.
Anonymous at 11:36 - a question for you - what do you mean by invasive plants don't provide habitat for native species?
please explain.
Are Bald Eagles native species?
Are Red-shouldered Hawks, Osprey or Great Blue Herons native species?
These trees do provide habitat for these and many other birds.
You people are irrational. For one thing, Ospreys do NOT nest in living trees. Bald Eagles do and probably hawks as well.
Birds nest in Brazilian pepper (Florida Holly)trees.
Australian Pines were prevalent on state, county and city easements and became a hazard during a hurricane costing millions to remove from roads and waterways. Hence the designation as an invasive, non-native and the state has spent more millions eradicating them from public lands...... unless you have MONEY (Gulfstream)
So while they cannot force you to remove them from your property, they highly encourage you to do so.
The osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. Wikipedia
Having said that, we certainly have the water and we have the fish and we used to have this tree. There are many more Australian pines out around here with owners not as paranoid.
Oh irrational one--why are you so nasty? Ospreys absolutely will nest in living trees but prefer something else because their nests are out in the open. They will look for a suitable site and it is always high up. They don't always find their ideal situation and do prefer dead trees, platforms and such. Are you a PhD or something at 5:43?
I have no idea where this Osprey nested. All I know is he hung out in this tree and fished from it. I would like to see platforms built just for Ospreys to nest. I wonder if that is something the County would do at John Prince Park?
As a follow up, also similar issues related to the muscovy ducks which you had mentioned in your post. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-pines-muscovy-ducks-20150604-story.html
They are considered invasive as well so they are not relocated but killed. They also crowd out native birds and they carry bird diseases that could decimate our bird population.
Moscovies are considered that, anonymous at 9:01 only because humans have given them that designation because of their aggressive nature, their droppings, and their tendency to "destroy" lawns. Destroying lawns is certainly subjective but ours out here live on the lake. The only living creatures DESTROYING lawns are humans and some are right here in the building where I live.
But those are not reasons to KILL them, anonymous. They are one of God's creatures.
Muscovy ducks have been here for sometime and many are domesticated. They are invasive b/c of people like you complaining I would suspect and the Fish and Wildlife finally in 2010 or something like that proclaimed them to be "invasive." They say that they "might" carry a disease. MIGHT.
Illegal aliens are invasive and have more rights here.
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