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Family: Salicaceae
The Vantage fire of 2018 was more devastating than most realize. The pics that you see are of a stand of willow trees (only 5 to 7 trees total), which were all destroyed by the wildfire. For many forested habitats - wildfires are healthy. NOT HERE! This was an oasis that has been compromised for the worse. Much of this area is scabland or shrub-steppe at best. Trees are few and far between and are only found next to water, in moist canyons (like this) or planted by farmers for a wind block. I visited this canyon the previous year before the fire and was surprised to find the small stand of willows.
Canyon in shrub-steppe near Vantage, Washington.
4 Comments
These were recovering from the Girraween fires earlier this year. My jaw dropped several times. https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/83... https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/10... Many Australian species need fire in order to germinate.
Thank you for commenting Sergio and Neil. It was sad. I remember making mental notes when I was there before the fire and was observing different species of birds using these particular willows as a resting or a vantage point (no pun intended). Neil are you going to make a wildfire damage spotting? I would like to see one.
Great spotting and notes, Brian. I've visited a few areas recently that have been affected by fires, and it's a very surreal experience to see once-familiar places looking so unfamiliar. Sad these trees have been destroyed. Willows are beautiful trees.
So sad...