When tree lopping becomes necessary, it's a short-term sacrifice that has long-term benefits. The canopy of the tree might be reduced, but this allows the tree to rejuvenate itself. There's also the more pragmatic form of lopping, when a large portion of the tree needs to be removed if it has begun to pose a potential threat to your property. However, there is one sacrifice you might not be entirely comfortable with. When a significant portion of the tree is removed, there is the possibility that native birds will lose a nesting site, meaning your backyard might not have as many of these vibrant and colourful visitors as it used to. But is it possible to undertake some rather necessary tree lopping while still keeping your backyard as an alluring spot for native birds?
Tree Hollows
Many large native parrots utilise natural hollows in trees as their nesting sites. These hollows are slow-forming, and there have been instances where arborists have diligently carved artificial hollows into existing trees when bird habitat has been lost. You don't need to go down this road, but you should check to see if any of the trees in your backyard that are soon to be lopped actually have a hollow. If so, have a word with your tree services company. Is it possible to amend the length of the tree that was to be removed? It might be possible to keep the hollow intact while still removing the necessary portion of tree.
Alternatives
When a sizable amount of canopy is to be lost, it becomes difficult for birds to construct nests in the branches. You need to offer them an alternative. So how can you do this?
Purchase Nesting Boxes
Obtain a variety of nesting boxes and install them in the trees. They should be high enough to protect the birds from predators, so a nesting box only a short distance from the ground isn't going to be suitable. You might wish to obtain the nesting boxes prior to the lopping being carried out. The tree services company might be able to help you with installation, since they will already have the necessary equipment on hand.
DIY Nesting Boxes
If you prefer more of a DIY approach, you can build and install nesting boxes yourself, designed to be suitable for a variety of different native species. A nesting box isn't a complicated project, so this can be a fun activity for your family.
So while your chosen tree services company might be able to leave some nesting options for birds after lopping your trees, it can be up to you to go the extra mile to keep those beautiful birds visiting your backyard.
Share26 March 2018
Hey! I'm Keith. Are you looking for tree removal advice? If so you have come to the right place. Last year, I needed some advice about how best to deal with the trees in my yard. One of the trees had started to lean and I was very worried about it. In order to deal with the problem, I called in a professional tree service and asked them to take a look at it. The contractor wasted no time and quickly removed the tree. I was really pleased with the level of service I received and I would like to encourage others to contact their local tree service.