Trees and people

There is evidence that since the 1950’s there has been a world-wide cultural shift away from nature. Despite the mountains of evidence pointing to the values of engaging with nature, respect and concern for the natural world appears to be in decline.

 

Our increasingly busy and internet-connected lifestyles it seems means we are more concerned about the latest app we need to download than pausing a moment to listen to some bird-song.

 

There are arguments that this disconnect with nature begins at school age. In 2002, a study in the UK determined that an average 8-year-old British child could identify 78% of all Pokémon characters, but only 53% of common British wildlife species.

 

Often, trees are the focus of the natural environment – they are large and long-lived and many have a sense of presence. The existence of trees in an urban situation can inspire either a sense of reverence or a sense of apprehension in the community while it might be said, many an urban-dweller is not bothered either way.

In this rapidly changing world, many of us are feeling troubled and at risk. Trees and nature are capable of providing a sense of composure and tranquillity. We should look to trees to help make sense of our busy lifestyles. 

Trees are a reminder to slow down and tune into the natural world. Trees are part of our past. They are in the present and they will be part of our future too.

PS: City of Boroondara (Hawthorn, Kew, Camberwell…) Tree Protection Local Law – LINK – read it and weep. When you get to point 17 Offences, one “penalty unit” (set by Victorian Gov’t) = $180.

 

Rainbows and Musks

Drouin’s streets, parks and gardens are often visited by flocks of the gregarious Rainbow Lorikeet. It isn’t hard to know when they have arrived – they screech loudly and squabble constantly among themselves and they spend a lot of time chasing off other species.

Rainbow Lorikeets are thought to pair for life

All of Australia’s Lorikeets are nectar and pollen feeders – they have a specially adapted ‘feathery’ tongue for lapping the blossoms of trees and shrubs such as eucalypts, paperbarks and banksias. They do also take some insects, fruit and seeds as part of their diet. Rainbow Lorikeets have been recorded eating meat.

Musk Lorikeets are said to emit a musky odour

Being especially partial to the blossoms of our native trees and shrubs, Lorikeets will often fly long distances chasing the flowering patterns of their favourite species. Lorikeets are described as a nomadic species.

When the Friends of Drouin’s Trees were conducting their bird surveys recently, a noisy flock of rainbows were feeding in some Spotted Gums at the Drouin Golf Course. Among them were some Musk Lorikeets, a slightly smaller and less colourful bird.

Rainbow (left) and Musks (right) at a water bowl

Rainbow Lorikeets are widely distributed across the north of Australia, down the eastern seaboard and across to about Adelaide. Musk Lorikeets are more restricted to the south-east corner of the continent.

Both Rainbow and Musk Lorikeets use tree hollows for nesting and so they are attracted to stands of large gums that contain suitable hollows, a resource that is steadily disappearing in some areas.

 

The not so Sweet Pittosporum

 

Sweet Pittosporum, Pittosporum undulatum, is a serious weed outside its area of natural distribution. It establishes quickly and readily competes with other native species. Sweet Pittosporum develops a dense canopy that shades out all understory and drops lots of leaves that may contain an inhibitor preventing indigenous plants from surviving.

 

Sweet Pittosporum is a medium-sized, fast-growing tree with dark leaves, creamy-white flowers and orange fruit. It is an Australian endemic whose original natural range was wet forest areas down the eastern seaboard from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria.

Since European settlement, Sweet Pittosporum has thrived in areas altered by humans, in particular where native vegetation has become fragmented by development, agriculture, forestry, road-making, etc.

 

Although the fruit and flowers provide nutrient for native birds and animals at certain times, the ecology of bushland containing patches of Sweet Pittosporum is noteworthy for its lack of biodiversity.

 

Despite its invasive properties, Sweet Pittosporum is readily available in nurseries and on-line where it is often referred to as Native Daphne.