Overpopulation, heron style.

I am guessing the constant crush of heron flocks led to the demise of this tree.  The site is the Lacassine exit on I-10 in Louisiana.  I was on my way home and saw the flocks zooming in by the hundreds -- Ibis, Cattle Egret, Snowy Egrets, Blue Heron, and even some shore gulls.

The gathering seems to be an occurrence starting about 1 1/2 hours before sundown.  The cacophony grows louder, the lower the sun gets and the more birds that come gliding in.