by Sue Cag and Kim Dicso
featured image: spotted owl stretching
I had the extraordinary privilege of observing this spotted owl inside the fire cavern of a huge sequoia snag, located in a rare unmanaged area of a sequoia grove. These unique birds, as well as other amazing wildlife, thrive in areas that have not been tampered with by humans. Unmanipulated forest is different, and the owls know it. Many people don’t know what a real sequoia forest looks like, because the majority of the accessible grove areas are heavily managed. But for those who have been lucky enough to step inside one of these primeval patches, the difference is unmistakeable. There are trees of all ages and sizes, including snags and trees on the ground. And by trees, I mean trees other than sequoias — a sequoia forest is only complete with companion conifers heartily represented — especially white fir, incense-cedar, and majestic sugar pines. Snags, which agencies and logging companies have convinced the mainstream are essentially useless and should be clearcut after fire, are primary habitat for a wide range of wildlife. Snags host not only a variety of owls, but several species of woodpeckers, ravens, raptors, countless songbirds, as well as mammals who den in the carved out cavities at the bases of these trees, including black bears and weasels. An intact forest is teeming with life. Mosses cling to long-fallen trees, native plants abound, songbirds and squirrels chatter, and trees thrive. There is nothing like a forest that has been allowed to simply be a forest, without humans barging in with the hubris to think they can improve on nature herself. A forest left alone is a paradise, just ask the owls.
About the Author:
Sue Cag is a musician, artist, writer, photographer, and nature preservationist.
All photos and video by Sue Cag. All Rights Reserved. Photos and video may not be used without permission.
About the Author:
Kim Dicso is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, prosaist, hiker, traveler, vegan, and contributing author of nature writing for ilovetrees.net. Find her music at folkstar.net. Find her writing at kimdicso.wordpress.com.
