Tree Triplets, Now Twins
sarahlandrey
2 years ago
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years agoRelated Discussions
And then there's the triplets .... !
Comments (22)Oops! Didn't realize I haven't updated this thread for a while. LOTS going on at Camp Nappy. Any way .... The triplets were in the free-flight and the parrot, Pepper, asked, "Hey! What's going on there, Shorty?" I don't know if she was referring to my 5ft. 2in. stature or the chicks. LOL! A week or so later one of the chicks became septic. He had horrid diarrhea and an overwhelming bacterial infection. :*( He's got IV warmed fluids, IV antibiotics, probiotics, warmed food and many tears and kisses. :*( He' was trying to live. He was trying to die. Within 8 hours he died. :*( Then there were two .... And they were doing well. They were getting better at catching flying insects. And so are we. Had a little scare a few days later when a Cooper's Hawk was spotted in the Willow Tree watching our lessons. The Swallows were the ones who saw the Hawk and they immediately flew to my shoulder! Lesson was cut short and we went inside. Good to know the Swallows have a sharp eye and recognize potential danger. I can't imagine what the Hawk was thinking of while he watched me with *my* youngsters. We were catching little gnats, moths and other small insects and releasing them with the Swallows inside. Only here would that be an acceptable practice! LOL! We've been looking for aphids, which is supposed to be a big part of their diet, but .... where's a SINGLE aphid when you need one?!?!? We arranged to release them at the horse barn where they were found when the time comes. Oh my. I have gone on a bit! Anyone still awake? And then on August 2nd .... We always worried this would happen, more so with the Swallows than any other chick we have raised. The two Barn Swallows were practicing their flying and hunting skills yesterday afternoon. We were sooooo proud how well they were doing. They would fly around then land in the trees, on the roof or on me and then take off again. Mike and the children were outside and on watch duty but it came out of no where. One of the fledglings was on the roof and fluttering his wings and chirping for food as they do .... In an instant a Cooper's Hawk snatched him up and was gone. The little Swallow's end was instant, I'm sure. I know the Hawk needs to eat too but our little Swallow? Eating him would be like eating one potato chip. Not really a meal, was he? Lesson was over at that moment. We've known the Hawk is around but they are everywhere too. I need to get brave and let the lone survivor out again to perfect his skills and return to the wild. There's no real way to protect him from Hawks outside. ~SIGH~ We got permission to visit the horse barn where our little Swallow was found. He was been flying around and becoming familiar with the area and interacting with other Swallows. I would not doubt that he may have met his parents too. Barn Swallows are not exactly the friendliest bird species to one another. Initially they were in attack mode at the new intruder and the little one would quickly return to me for protection. As time has passed ... they seem to accept that he's a part of the territory and no longer swoop down on him or chase him, but rather allow him to join in their little groups as they hunt the various insects. I wasn't sure at what point we leave him on his own. I suppose it will be when he doesn't return to me for protection or if I call to him. Even then ... we'd return for a few days to see if all is well. He isn't tagged or banded in any way so we really have no way to identify him once he rejoins his family group. He'll just be one of the flock with a unique chick-hood. Well ..... I left little Chip at the horse barn for the night. His first night outside like the big birdy we hope he will become! We returned repeatedly to see if he's OK. If he needs breakfast. If he needs a cuddle. ... I know I didl! He's been at the barn for about a week-ish. Yesterday is the first day he didn't come back to me for a cuddle and a meal. There's tons of swallows there and one of them is our little Chip. We'll go back for a few more days but ... I think he's become a big birdy and has returned to his rightful home. Without a doubt ... it has been the most difficult challenge yet for me ... to try to raise the Barn Swallows! Sadly we lost two of them but hopefully Chip will go on to raise many more chicks. Little Chip-a-roo hasn't come back to me today. I'll go back tonight but am sure he's well on his own now. God speed, little Chip! You've given me more grey hairs but you were well worth it!...See MoreSiberian Spruce - a twinned tree
Comments (8)Chester: "BTW I have never ever seen the situation where branches from one part of the tree weld to another part of the same tree......" This happens often, but is not always easy to see and/or recognize. With open grown spruce trees, the density of the foliage obscures one's view, and after a time as the trunk grows the graft point is hidden as the trunk grows thicker and covers it. Sometimes with large old beech trees the grafts are very obvious and happen so that the trunk of the tree never grows enough to cover them. I have a number of forked white pine trees and most of them--the ones that I did not cut on half off from--have split. But in two cases I have absolutely magnificent white pines that fork about 6 or 8 feet up, that have one or two grafted crossed branches. I am confident that these trees will never split apart. If you want to buy this "twinned" tree, you could, perhaps, do some things encourage the grafting of branches from one side to the trunk on the other side. If you do, you have to select branches very close to the point where the fork is. If there is any movement between the two trunks where the branches touch the opposite trunk, the branches can't graft. Perhaps you could stabilize the two sides by tying them together in some way. And there are other things you could do to encourage grafting. And, of course, you would eventually have the option of cabling the tree if it grows in a manner that might indicate some weakness. Double trunked trees can be attractive. --Spruce...See MoreHelp! On removal of one palm without killing it's twin
Comments (2)I would think if you simply cut down the one, it should not have much effect on the other. Just don't try to dig it up or you risk damaging the roots on the one you are trying to save. Just a total guess, I could be totally wrong....See MoreWe have Triplets!!
Comments (55)Oh, Granlan, they live in my neck of the woods! They are so cute. However, I have to admit when I recall the newborn sleep deprivation days, I don't know if I could've handled 3! LOL I bet Mommy is just glad they are here safe and sound. Sheryl in Portland...See Moresarahlandrey
2 years agosarahlandrey
2 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years agosarahlandrey
2 years ago
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