Thank you all for your support and encouraging words in regards to my 
unfortunate tree situation.  I certainly have had my feelings of outrage and 
you can bet we are going to seek some sort of recompense or replacement (our 
son is a lawyer, and although I have never sued anyone in my life, we can 
get the benefits of his education -- not to mention some payback for those 
tuition payments!).

However, I really do feel a sense of personal loss and mourning, and spent a 
good deal of the day yesterday in a deep depression (and tears) over what 
happened. I just want all of you wonderful MD birders to know that your kind 
words have made me feel better.

It also helps to see how well the birds have already adapted. I placed some 
seed out in tray feeders which they found immediately. And I nailed my large 
suet feeder to the deck railing (had to secure it so the squirrels don't 
steal it!), and the downies don't seem to mind in the least. All of the 
birds just have to take turns using the few perching areas left on the sadly 
mangled tree.

Thanks again! You guys are the best!

Jenny

P.S. - Sorry for the lack of paragraph spacing in my original post. I don't 
know how that happened!