A woodpecker and squirrels under snowfall, and why we shouldn't interfere with the processes of nature in urban parks.
As I was taking a walk at the end of a modest November snowstorm, I came upon a beautiful woodpecker and a group of squirrels. They were in different parks, and both had in common the fact that used decaying trees to sustain their precious life.
This woodpecker was feeding on the insects living in the several dead trees in a park. Thankfully he did not seem too much bothered by being my photo model, although he did seem to disaprove of my impoliteness when I got a bit too close.
A few minutes later, I saw this very cute squirrel which was observing me through the window of his decaying-tree nest (where there seemed to be tunnels he could pass trough), while one of his friends was eating on top of a nearby tree, and two others were chasing each other (maybe playing tag?).
Seeing them and the bird under the magical atmosphere of snowfall brought a smile to my face. Thanks to the dead trees, they had a source of food and an habitat to help them survive the very harsh conditions of winter in an urban environment.
The city I live in took the intelligent initiative not to remove dead trees in parks like they used to do for "esthetical reasons". I would guess they used to do this because humans are afraid of everything reminescent of decay and entropy, but it's important to realise that life and order can not exist without death and chaos. Another good thing the city did, is to stop the removal of dead leaves on park grounds in autumn, because in winter these leaves gives back nutrients to the soil while decomposing, and serves as habitat for insects, which are a rare and important source of foods for birds and small mammals in winter.
Interfering as less as possible with nature, letting dead plants decompose naturally, is thus an excellent, very easy, and free way to preserve biodiversity and soil quality.
For more information on this subject, you may read this article:
Thank you for reading.
-aoi
Oh my, those squirrels are just the cutest!!
Interesting that city stopped cleaning the dead matter. It is actually good. Nature has a reason for everything and if the leaves are there, means the have to be there. Like you say - for bugs and nutrients.
People would like to have everything cleaned up and sterile...
I very much agree! Much more harm than good comes from disturbing the cycles of nature. Life is messy and we need to accept that, in part because this allows us to enjoy the presence of very cute fat squirrels ^^
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Yea! Especially those fat squirrels :D
nature is harmonious and better not to intervene in it)
what wonderful shots you got!
ah, these squirrels))) they are beautiful))) the first time I see black! ahhh) judging by their appearance, they are not starving there)))
Thank you! Indeed they seem well fed. There is lots of acorns in that park.
What colours are the squirrel in your part of the world?
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in the park, which is not far from my house, there are also many acorns, but we have slender red squirrels 😊 https://steemit.com/blog/@inna-world/walk-with-me-to-350-year-old-oak-of-shevchenko-progulka-so-mnoi-k-350-letnemu-dubu-shevchenka-927434bb0ceest
Nice post, thanks for sharing! Your red squirrels are very cute, there are none of them here.
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Yes, we have other squirrels) but after watching your post, now I want to have a black squirrel))) she is super sweet)
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They are so beautiful, so cute!
And so beautiful photos ❤️
I am shocked how close you've managed came to them 😊
I was less close than it seem, I have a long camera lens (300mm).
But sometimes urban squirrels can come really near, especially when you have nuts to feed them. Sometimes they eat from my hand ^^
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