[obol] Eucalyptus (was Re: let's wage a dialogue not a war)

[Dan Gleason]

I would like to point out the Eucalyptus are NOT good for migrating  
warblers. Eucalyptus trees exude a sticky gum, which is partly why  
some species nearly explode in a fire. These are fire-adapted plants  
and depend upon the fires they fuel for seed dispersal. Birds, such  
as honey-eaters and leaf-gleaners that co-evolved with Eucalyptus  
trees have long curved bills that they can probe into flowers and  
avoid the sticky resin. The North American kinglets, vireos and  
warblers have short straight bills. They are attracted to Eucalyptus  
flowers and the insects housed within. However, the short length of  
their bills means that they must probe deeply into the flowers to  
obtain insects. In doing so, their faces are often covered with this  
sticky resin. For some birds, the resin is think enough that it can  
become difficult to open the mouth, in others, their nostrils become  
plugged. A great many of these birds will suffocate and die each  
year. Additionally, birds such as Anna's Hummingbirds will build  
nests in these trees but as many as 50% are blown out by winds  
whereas in the shelter of native plants, only 10% of the nests may be  
lost. Great Horned Owls and Red-shouldered Hawks do seem to utilize  
the trees successfully for nesting but but most native bird have less  
overall success in eucalyptus.

Ground-nesting and ground-foraging birds are also put at risk in  
groves of Eucalyptus. The litter from these trees can be as think as  
3-4 feet in some areas. The insects and micro flora and fauna and  
other organisms that naturally break down this debris in Australia  
are not found here. All but a few native plants (poison-oak being one  
of the survivors) are choked out or poisoned by the chemicals from  
the Eucalyptus, leaving an area of desolation unfit for a healthy  
diversity of native birds.

These are definitely not bird-friendly plants for North American  
species.

Dan Gleason

-------------

Dan Gleason
dan-gleason at comcast.net
541 345-0450


On Feb 4, 2008, at 2:55 PM, LammergeierEyes at aol.com wrote:

> What do we do with the  non-native Eucalyptus which has displaced  
> an oak, but which provides fodder for migrating Warblers?
>
>
>
> Best wishes,
> Blake Matheson
> Carmel California & Portland Oregon
>
>
>
>
>
> Who's never won? Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL  
> Music.
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