Ashes to Oaks, a tree-planting plan worthy of support
The Moebius Nature Center, a not-for-profit facility located next to Sunny Lake Park that is dedicated to environmental conservation, and the Rotary Club of Aurora, are undertaking the planting of hundreds of oak trees in Aurora over the next two years and welcome our support.
The Ashes to Oaks effort is led by Dr. Bill Shaul, a physician, who was inspired to launch the campaign by the work of nationally renowned conservation biologist, Dr. Doug Tallamy from the University of Delaware.
Shaul cites some pretty grim statistics that have inspired the oak tree planting initiative. They include:
The loss of hundreds of millions of ash trees throughout North America due to the Emerald Ash Borer.
An estimated 30-billion birds lost in North America during the past 50 years. Much of the loss, scientists say, is due to a loss of insects, particularly caterpillars.
The loss of nearly 10 million birds within species that depend on insects in their diets. In contrast, there has been no change in the numbers of birds that do not depend on caterpillars to feed their young.
According to Shaul, a key link has been shown to exist between oak trees and most of our native songbirds. The reason, he writes, is that oak trees, more than any other native plant or tree, are the major habitat for hundreds of species of caterpillars. Caterpillars have more nutritional value for birds than almost any other kind of insects.
Nutrients in the leaves of oak trees are consumed by caterpillars and then consumed by songbirds, so the oak tree leaves are essential to the health of the birds
Another advantage of oak trees, Shaul writes, is their ability to trap and remove from the atmosphere more carbon dioxide than any other native tree. Furthermore, he writes, oak trees can stabilize the soil and improve watersheds.
Shaul and other volunteers at the Moebius Nature Center are planting oak saplings in small groves of three to eight trees to ensure their long-term survival. They have received encouragement and support from Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin and the Aurora Tree Commission.
Those interested in volunteering in the effort may contact Shaul at theshauls@msn.com. Tax deductible donations for the purchase of trees may be made to the Moebius Nature Center at kim@mymnc.org.
Other ways to support the caterpillar and insect population include:
Avoid the use of outdoor lighting all night long. Yellow LED lights or motion detectors are better alternatives if security is necessary.
Avoid spraying for mosquitos because the spray tends to kill more moths and other insects important to a healthy bird population than it does mosquitos.
David E. Dix is a retired publisher of the Record-Courier.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Ashes to Oaks movement to help birds, environment in Aurora
