This spring as I was raking leaves a bird quickly, yet conspicuously, flew away from where I was working. It was a little bird with four eggs in her nest.

If you’re walking and a bird conspicuously flies away and chirps you’re too close to her nest. Indeed, the bird is trying to trick you into chasing her rather than find her nest. Robins are the biggest offenders of this behavior.

Winter Burn in Japanese Cryptomeria

The tree she built her nest on is a Yoshino Cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’). The tree suffers from winter burn. I already pruned the damage from the other trees.

Winter burn is when evergreens lose water quicker than they can replace it. In particular, you see winter burn when there’s either a brief winter warm spell or strong winter winds with frozen ground.

If your trees or shrubs have winter burn all you can do is prune out the dead branches and hope they regrow.

I decided not to cut the tip where the bird’s nest was to give her cover and mark where I shouldn’t walk. The nest was at the base of the burnt foliage.

I’m not sure what’s going to become of the Cryptomeria. Every one of them lost a central leader. I guess they’re going to become large shrubs.

Pruning Japanese Cryptomeria

Cryptomeria responds extremely well to pruning. The tree sprouts new growth better than most needle-leaved evergreens after heavy pruning. While I know they’re going to grow, unfortunately, I’m not sure in which direction.

Sadly, the momma bird lost her chicks a week after they were born. One morning all was well. That afternoon the nest was tumbled and the chicks were gone with momma flitting in the tree above.

You can see water droplets on her wings in the pictue below. She’s a great mom!

Let me know the type of bird that is and I’ll update the post. I’m thinking Finch but birds aren’t my specialty.