We have an umbrella cockatoo and like most larger hookbills he is a voracious chewer. His perches over the years have all been arbutus trimmings but of course the smaller the branch, the quicker it's chewed. I'm looking for gardeners with arbutus on their property who may find the need periodically to trim out some branches. Yes, I know there's precious few of them on the mainland but I'm perfectly happy to make a trip to the island to pick it up. Branch diameters between 1.5 and 4 inches would be preferable, minimum length about 15 inches and they don't have to be straight. Kindly keep me in mind should you be doing any arbutus trimming! Thanks so much!
There is plenty of dead Arbutus wood in the Horseshoe Bay area of West Vancouver, especially under power lines.
Let me know if you're in the Nanoose Bay area of Vancouver Island, Pieter. I could give you lots of branches! I'd love to see a photo of your cockatoo.
Thanks Margot! Next time we're going to Chris and Sue in Black Creek I'll be sure to be in touch! Thanks again. Here's his Lordship with your truly, taken probably 25 years ago, if not more...
Here's some herbarium records for Arbutus in BC. The map enlarges to the point where it is like a body is hovering over individual collection sites in a flying suit. CPNWH Search Results (pnwherbaria.org)
I can't tell when that map was assembled but even though many Arbutus menziesii have died of various fungal diseases over the past decades, there are still huge number of trees in areas not even mentioned - like mine.
