Cavity trees are dead or dying trees that have one or more holes in the trunk or main branches. Cavities can also be found in some healthy trees. Cavities are excavated by birds. They are also created by decay and by broken branches. In Ontario, more than 50 species of birds and mammals depend on cavity trees for nesting, rearing young, roosting, feeding, storing food, escaping predators and hibernating. The bird and mammal species that use tree cavities are divided into two groups. Primary cavity-users, such as woodpeckers, chickadees and the red-breasted nuthatch, make their own cavities. Secondary cavity-users (e.g., raccoons, porcupines) are unable to excavate their own cavities. They rely on cavities excavated by other birds and on naturally occurring cavities. [Credit: above passage from Ontario MNRF Landowner Extension Notes "Cavity Trees Are Refuges for Wildlife", 1999.]
This particular cavity tree is a Sugar Maple with a whimsical, mystical form. Depending from where you view it, you may see a long-haired angel, a tree spirit watching over the forest, or any number of possible forms... in your cache log, feel free to let others know what you made of it. There is something special, and perhaps spiritual, about this particular spot.
Grey-Bruce Tree-O-Caching has been organized by the Bruce-Grey Woodlands Association to cultivate enjoyment, knowledge, and tree species identification of interesting/significant trees around Grey and Bruce counties. If there is good response, we will add a new series next year!