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

[Daniel Farrar]

I don't have a web link showing the negative impact, but in Monterey CA
birders recently discovered Winter Wrens successfully nesting in Eucalyptus.

http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/moonglow.html

Daniel

On Feb 4, 2008 4:09 PM, Jeff Gilligan <jeffgill at teleport.com> wrote:

>  Thanks Dan.  I have read an article or two regarding the claimed
>  ill-effect of eucalyptus trees on American birds.  I have also read
> arguments that those claims are overstated, and perhaps misleading.  There
> are great numbers of eucalypts in California.  Many bird species feed on
> insects that are attracted to them.  It is also clear that Anna's
> Hummingbirds are more common than they were before humans introduced
> eucalypts.  The matter of eucalypts naturalizing in California  and
> displacing native vegetation is certainly a concern, but I don't know of a
> volunteer eucalypt in Oregon.  Do you know of a link that proves the
> negative effects of eucalypts?  Jeff Gilligan
>
>
> On 2/4/08 5:52 PM, "Dan Gleason" <dan-gleason at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Daniel Farrar
Eugene, Oregon
jdanielfarrar at gmail.com
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