Even snow, cold can’t stop tree planters

Volunteers turned out in spite of the cold and snow to take part in The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays’ 2017 holiday tree-planting project at the Angola Neck Preserve off Waterview Road near Rehoboth Bay. The three-day project will result in a new forest to benefit migratory songbirds such as Indigo Buntings and American Redstarts. As the forest matures, it will attract a different set of birds such as Eastern Kingbirds and Scarlet Tanagers, said Katie Young, center spokeswoman.

“These efforts will create important habitat for birds and native wildlife, and will help prevent nutrient pollution to the bays for years to come,” said Center Project Manager Bob Collins. The new trees and shrubs will utilize excess nutrients found in the soil, preventing an estimated 192 pounds of nitrogen and 4.8 pounds of phosphorus from reaching the region’s three bays annually, he said.

More than 90 volunteers helped plant 12,000 trees.