To follow-up on the whole tree situation I
outlined last week, we have had to postpone the removal of the two trees from our yard. As it turns out, we will need a permit from our village to remove a living tree within three feet of the property line, which describes the mulberry tree destroying our neighbor's fence. We already had the village engineer out to discuss the situation, and it is pretty much a formality, but this has also given us the chance to reconsider the plan to take down the nearby wounded maple tree (which would not require a permit). We have a recommendation for an arborist to have a look at the tree to confirm it is a lost cause (though we are fairly certain it is), but unless he tells us it is in danger of coming down immediately, we are going to try and forestall cutting it down until after the summer to give bird broods in the tree the chance to grow up enough to give them the chance of surviving the loss of their habitat.
On a semi-related note, I spotted a Blue Jay nest in another tree out there yesterday, and got to watch the hatchlings being fed close up (trying to keep enough distance to avoid disturbing anyone), which was a treat.