Update County Tree Trimming Elevation in our Subdivision

Update on the tree trimming in our subdivision. I sure wish this situation would resolve so we can move on and enjoy the migratory bird nesting and breeding season. This is really a downer. I am still hoping the County will postpone this elective tree elevation till after Migratory Bird Nesting and Breeding season ends.

- The tree trimming/elevation scheduled for 4/21/ 2014 has not started.

- The 10 or so orange ties I found in the front 3 streets of the neighborhood, plus a couple on Darchance, Londale, and one on Colbury were from the County.

Per email communication, from the NE Assistant Regional Species Conservation Biologist of the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the ties represent the following.

Orange County, MT, Orange County Public Works Department shared this -
“Trees that were on our trimming list but that will not be disturbed because active nests were observed on these.” And that:  “The trees we flagged were only from the ones we had on our list to trim. We did not tag all the trees if we were not going to trim them.”

- From this, I now understand, the community wide trimming may have changed to just a select list of trees?

- FWC viewed pics of nests in the County marked trees with ties, and thought they represented squirrel nests, not migratory bird nests. This excludes the 2 on Darchance, 1 on Londale, and 1 on Colbury as I didn't get pics or view those to date. I understand, County was made aware of this.

- To date, I tagged 15 trees with migratory bird nests. I also offered my assistance in showing them where these nests were. I understand and have been notified, the County has been made aware of my tags, and sent a pic of what they look like by FWC. FWC has notified me they have done everything they can as far as making County aware of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

- A problem that is going to arise with each day that passes if the County continues to pursue this elective tree trim but keeps postponing, is that the birds are very active and new nests are being built that have not been identified. But, I can handle the work because it is all for the cause of protecting the migratory bird nests.

a sample of what my tags look like

Nests - subdivision tree trimming-orange-plastic-ties

Today we noticed a few oak trees on our street tagged with orange ties. There is no id on them to identify who they may belong to or what they are there for.  I wonder if it is trees tagged with nests in them so they don't get the Orange County trimming, see 4/18/14 post? I took a peek to see what I could see in them. I found large leafy high nests in the main trunk where limbs branch out. Large enough for a squirrel or maybe even a raccoon. Hmmm. So I drove around the entire neighborhood (700 homes situated on an estimated 100-200 acres with 100's of trees) and found 10 trees tagged with the orange plastic ribbon in the front part of the neighborhood (where I live). I believe I checked all but three of them and they all had the same type of nest I describe above, larger nests in the main trunk bifurcation.

During my nest find, I found around 14-15 other nests in oak trees but without the orange tie. They are smaller cupping nests, the size a cardinal makes, and some are flat mourning dove. They are not obvious to see, camouflaged, blending seamlessly in the oak tree branches using oak tree moss, leaves, grass, and twigs. One of the nests, I see a female cardinal sitting in. I first found her on a branch within the tree, and I was patient to stay long enough to see where she went. I have a several pictures of it. This active nest is in a branch hanging over the street  in the trim zone. The tree is not tagged nor is any of the trees with the 14-15 passerine songbird size nests I observed.

the anonymous ribbon found on 10 trees without any identification to whom it belongs or why it is there.

large nests on the main trunk are found in the trees with orange plastic ties. These are not nests of the passerines we were focused to save. These are the easy nests to spot.

this isn't really off the main trunk bifurcation but it's a larger leafy nest - no orange tie.

------------these nests below this line are camouflaged, small, hidden. No orange tie found. One apparent nest is seen with a female cardinal sitting in it.  -----------

-------END female cardinal sitting in what looks to be a nest ---------------------

-------BEGIN sampling of other nests found in oak trees where trunk not tagged with orange tie--------