Decline Of The Maple Tree

Click photos for larger view.	Note: Some pictures are composites due to height of tree.
	On November 4, 1979, the London Free Press ran a full page photo feature titled: "His trees get tender loving care" by Ed Heal. This was the origin of our treasured "Tree Hugger" photo -- but it also documents something else -- the largest tree in the woods at that time. That same tree, a quarter century later, is the subject of our own documentation here as it completes the circle of life (and death) and returns to the earth. Although pictured from a different camera angle, your can identify many of the unique features of the majestic specimen. The photo is as published -- complete with the inset of our tree hugger. The caption reads:          Sawyer's favourite tree (he shows his affection, inset) is          this 125 year-old maple that stretches above everything          in the woodlot.
	2003 A stately tree still with fine branches in place. Looks like all other wintering trees. 2004 Fine branches disappearing. Bark deterioration noticable.
	2005 Fine branches all gone. Many small branches gone as well. Notice bracket fungi forming at base. 2006 No small branches remain. Some bigger branches have fallen. Upper bark practically all gone. Evidence of birds feeding. Bracket fungi present at higher points.
	2007 No bark present in crown area. Only larger branches remain. Now providing a valuable food source for birds. 2008 Branches extend only a short distance from the trunk. A few years ago, the crown displayed a majestic diameter of nearly 75 feet.
	2009 The decline continues. Larger branches continue to fall. Compare the upper branches year-to-year to see the reduction of the crown. A number of photos were taken to document the decline in greater detail. Click here to view those photos. 2010 Seems like only major branches now remain. It is possible that it is beginning to lean.
	2011 Fewer branches remain. Most of the bark has fallen. Wildlife dens appearing within the tree. 2012 The declining maple tree seems to be structurally sound. In the past 2 years it has endured several high wind events that have downed other trees in the woodlot. This is the 10th annual picture of the declining tree. The photos speak for themselves.
	2013 Only a couple of branches remain. Significant dens appearing in the upper section. Lots of evidence of birds seeking grubs 2014 The major change this year is the loss of an approximately 25' major branch section on the top right. In the expanded photo, you can see part of it on the ground to the right of the trunk. Most of the section survived the fall intact. This is no small tree. Trunk diameter is more than 4'. Height is still more than 50'. On May 4, a pair of Red-Bellied Woodpeckers were observed using it as their home.
	2015 No significant changes in the main structure from last year. Ample evidence of birds using the carcass for nesting and feeding. Around the tree base, the fallen smaller branches have mostly decayed and no longer are prominent. Larger branches are quickly disintegrating. 2016 We have lost the last significant branch to the east and now have only the stem remaining and a short stubb on the north side. Also falling this past year was about a 20' top section — home to several nesting cavities.
	2017 Very little change from last year visible. Fewer nesting cavities available, but feeding evidence abounds. Around the tree base, only the major fallen branches are obvious. Decay and other vegetation growth has consumed all smaller debris. Trunk has slight lean to south-west. Again a number of photos were taken to more closely document the decline. Click here to view those photos. 2018 Another year with very little change. The lean is still noticeable.
	2019 Surface changes minimal from last year. On close-up viewing, the trunk shows softening and decay. Lots of evidence of feeding activities. Lean to the southwest a bit more pronounced. Only a few ground remenents remain identifyable. 2020 Decay is progressing. Lots of evidence of insect activity and birds feeding. No dramatic changes from last year.
	2021 Lost a short amount off the top in the past year. Surface becoming softer and more pitted. Only one larger section on the ground still visible. Still a noticeable lean to southwest. For 20 years, our stately old maple remained upright defying time and the elements. At some point during the summer of 2021, it finally progressed from vertical to horizontal — falling to the south-west diagonally across the Hillside-1 trail. Click here to view 2021 photos of the fallen maple tree.

2022 Click here to view 2022 photos of the fallen maple tree.

2023 Click here to view 2023 photos of the fallen maple tree. Click images to enlarge

2024 Click image to enlarge Click here to view 2024 photos of the fallen maple tree.

Lowest section of tree.	Second tree section.
Third major section of the trunk.	All that remains of original major branches.
	Click images to enlarge You can see that decay is progressing thanks to time and nature. When it fell in 2021, it landed across the Hillside-1 trail. Trail maintenance crews over time have relocated parts of it open up that trail. This has probably accelerated the decay process somewhat. It is quite amazing to realize how quickly the once stately specimen returns to the earth. Its original crown was about 30 metres across.

How To Study These Photos

Look for specific changes over time. For example, notice the large branch with the elbow bend on the right side of the tree. In the 2003 photo, the branch is progressively subdivided into many small branches in the upper crown area. The next 3 years sees the upper area decline and disappear. The 2007 photo show that the branch has broken just below the elbow feature with only the base portion remaining on the tree.

Look at other specific areas of the photos and observe the year by year changes.