Growing Trees in Pots: Tips for Miniature Trees

Growing Trees in Pots: Tips for Miniature Trees

Tree Pruning and Your Local Wild Cockatoos: What You Need to Think About

by Julius Manninen

In many parts of the world, a sulphur-crested cockatoo is a truly exotic bird, generally only seen in zoos and sometimes as a pet. In Australia, you might take it for granted that these beautiful (although noisy) birds will always visit your backyard in a brilliant flash of white and sulphur. If you need to remove or even significantly prune the trees on your property, will you inadvertently be making the space less appealing to cockatoos? If these birds are frequent visitors to your property, you might want to ensure that any tree maintenance will not deter them from returning. These steps need to be taken before you make use of the services of a tree removal company in your area.

Evidence of Cockatoos

Have you noticed cockatoos nesting in your trees? This will likely only be the case if the trees in question have hollows of an appropriate size for the bird. It will also only generally be evident during the breeding season for the sulphur-crested cockatoo, which is from August to January in the southern, colder regions of Australia, and from May to September in the northern, warmer regions. If a tree with a suitable hollow is to be sacrificed, this should ideally take place outside of the breeding season. Inspect the hollows of the trees carefully to ensure that no cockatoos are at home. Climb a ladder and peer inside (while maintaining a safe distance) to look for signs of habitation. If the birds are nesting, it can be necessary to delay your intended work until such time as the chicks have left the nest.

Leaving the Hollow Intact

You should also have a word with your potential tree removal company. Ask them to inspect the tree in question. Can the pruning or lopping leave the hollow intact? It might be possible to amend the amount of trunk that you planned to remove, thus allowing the nesting hollow to remain. But what if tree felling was the plan and the tree will be entirely removed?

Alternative Nesting Sites

It can be possible to attach an appropriately-sized nesting box to a neighbouring tree of a suitable height. This mimics a hollow and gives the birds an alternative to their (now vanished) natural tree hollow. It can also be possible to create an artificial hollow in existing trees, although this can be rather labour-intensive. If this is an option you wish to pursue, you will again need the help of a tree services company. They can create the hollow without sacrificing the structural integrity of the tree.

Your trees might need to be pruned, but it would be a shame if the cockatoos no longer came calling. With a bit of planning, you can ensure that you'll still be able to enjoy their company.


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About Me

Growing Trees in Pots: Tips for Miniature Trees

Welcome to my blog. My name is Emilie. When I turned thirty, I received the most thoughtful gift from my mum: a tropical tree in a pot. I loved it. I would have never imagined buying something like that, but it lit up my home, and it produced yummy fruit. After having such a positive experience with a potted tree, I decided to invest in a few more. Through the years, I have learned how to take care of potted trees, how to plant them outside and how to ensure they are getting the light they need inside. If you want to buy a tree in a pot or if you already have one, explore these posts. They will guide you toward great tree care.

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