According to a report from the BBC a sixty-three year old man, Colin Watson, fell to his death after climbing a forty foot Larch tree to examine a nest. Mr. Watson is described as being previously “one of the most notorious thieves of rare bird eggs in the country”.  The article does not attribute any nefarious motive to his ascent, or untimely demise.

The species of bird he was observing has been kept under wraps.  However, I think it is safe to say that it was not a Fabergé, despite their value (too crunchy for a good omelette); nor a Bearded Reedling, despite their limited existence in the area (they nest just above the ground).

I urge tree climbers everywhere to lift a branch in a salute to our fallen comrade.  And do be careful.

In recent tree climbing news:

There is a convoy of truckloads of reports about Keith Richards falling out of a Coconut tree in New Zealand. Initial speculation abounds about just what he was doing up there. I think it’s fair to rule out, at this point, that he was looking for sunken treasure, or international super criminals. I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that he was just up there for fun.

Please consider this: if Keith Richards can make a piña out of his colada from scaling a tree, you can too. Only when you do it, it won’t make the BBC. Realize tree climbing for the life-or-death joy of you against mother nature (and gravity) that it really is.