Songbirds increase tree growth

I spent way too much time analyzing Harry Potter tonight, probably shouldn't have done that the night before my research poster is due, so I just have time for a quick note on this story, very interesting: apparently conifers inhabited by chickadees and nuthatches show more growth than trees that are not visited by these species.

Clips from the news release:
The study showed birds removed various species of beetles, caterpillars, ants and aphids from tree branches, increasing the vigor of the trees...."These ponderosa forests have very complex food chains," Linhart said. "In essence the nuthatches and chickadees act as tree protectors, keeping check the insects that can have deleterious effects on forest vigor."

There is much more to the story, I highly encourage you to follow the link above and read the whole thing. This is an example of what makes me love biology so much: the interconnectedness of everything; even the simplest things are part of such complex webs, how can people not be awestruck by it all?