(I'll apologize; my camera is slightly out of focus because of my cold adventure last night in the moonlight.)
This is, surely, the result of woodpecker damage. Above this point in the tree, there is a growing hole at the end of one of the upper limbs. This sight is not uncommon, in New England, especially has a variety of insects make the beautiful trees there home. Sugar Maples are under great pressure from disease, and once weakened they become more susceptible to boring insects and, eventually, the birds. I once saw a tree demolished in less than a week as woodpeckers drilled a hole a foot or more in diameter through the trunk of a maple.
The damage, here, is likely to parts of the tree that have already died back for other reasons, but it is worrisome, and we will, no doubt see other signs of decay as the year progresses.
This is, surely, the result of woodpecker damage. Above this point in the tree, there is a growing hole at the end of one of the upper limbs. This sight is not uncommon, in New England, especially has a variety of insects make the beautiful trees there home. Sugar Maples are under great pressure from disease, and once weakened they become more susceptible to boring insects and, eventually, the birds. I once saw a tree demolished in less than a week as woodpeckers drilled a hole a foot or more in diameter through the trunk of a maple.
The damage, here, is likely to parts of the tree that have already died back for other reasons, but it is worrisome, and we will, no doubt see other signs of decay as the year progresses.
