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-We will be covering a snagging situation!

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A Snag in The Yard

A snag in the yard is not a bad thing. It may sound like something that you may get caught or hung up on, but instead it is a very fascinating and beneficial thing to have in your yard.

A snag is a dead or dying tree. This may not sound very attractive to the average home owner. Traditionally it has been the practice of home owners to cut down dead trees in their yard. It may still be necessary if the tree is too close to the house and there is risk of it damaging the home. But even then sometimes just cutting off the top and leaving a twenty foot high stump or higher if safety allows, will be sufficient to supply a useful snag.

Many wild birds will use snags for a multiple of purposes. And birds are not the only creatures who use snags. There are many animals and insects that get an abundance of benefit from snags.

According to the National Wildlife Federation 1200 species of wildlife benefit from dead or downed trees which are in various stages of decay.

Some of the uses are:

• cavities and slits provide roosting spots for Flying Squirrels, Kestrels, Bats, Owls, Woodpeckers, Brown Creepers, Nuthatches, Chicadees, Swallows some Finches and other wild critters

• many varieties of bird species use the branches and tops of snags for perching, which allows them good viewing for rivals, predators and food

• rotting trees decay because of the action of fungi, mosses, microscopic organisms and insects, which in turn supply nesting material and a good food source for wild birds and other wild creatures

• storage bins for winter food – four legged-animals and birds use snags to store food

• soil exposed where a tree is uprooted provides a dust bath in the dryer months

You can create snags if there are no natural ones available in your area or yard. Hardwood trees make better nesting sites and softwood makes a better food source. Providing both will balance the need for housing and sustenance. Cut the top off a tree, leaving at minimum fourteen feet standing. Create a jagged top as this will allow for rot to develop faster than a smooth top. Cut off long branches, especially near the base of the trunk to provide a foraging area.

Snags at every stage of the decaying process provide a variety of life giving benefits to forest wildlife. They also ensure that the next generation of young trees will have the nutrients necessary for life.

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News & Reviews

• There has been a new bird discovered in Bogota, Colombia. Its name is Yariguies Brush-Finch. It is amazing to me that there can be a new bird discovery. But when one understands how remote an area this birds lives in, it is no surprise. It is a multicoloured bird, with a yellow and black body, orange crest and reddish-brown and black eyes. It is a sub-species of the Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch. A very beautiful bird. You can see a picture of it here.

• Our store is on its way!

  The brick and mortar type take a lot of time and work to set up - bin there done that – but so do online stores, just no heavy lifting. We will keep you posted.

  Our opening specials are really awesome!

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