Torrey Pines and Big bird.

In June 2018, I was called out to look at a trimming a Torrey pine for pruning in Del Mar CA. The person calling, Lets call him "Larry" -wanted to sell his house but was having an issue with a very large Torrey Pine on the his neighbors property line. He was looking for a tree trimming service to help with the mess from the tree. When I saw the photos I immediately recognized this type of situation. My gut reaction was to ask,
"Who owns this tree? After many texts and phone calls I finally got a meeting with this client.
This tree was massive! It was growing on the south side of Steve's property near his fence. There were several large birds - white egrets nesting and making a mess all over the tree and on Steve's driveway. When I finally met the gentleman at his house to see the tree, he was standing in his front yard.  I pulled up and as I approached he said,
"see what I mean!?"
(We were looking at a big white mess all over his driveway and fence). It looked like white paint had been splattered all over, but we both knew it was not white paint. It was in-fact bird poo.
I replied with a sympathetic statement,
"Ya that's pretty shitty." :)
We both laughed and I said,
"so, what were you thinking we should do here?"

As Larry rambled on about how the neighbor who doesn't maintain things and how the tree is a mess etc. etc, I noticed how the tree had been severally mutilated and how all of the branches were cut off on the North side over Larry's house. However, there was still a "canopy" at the ver very top  about 60 feet up - hanging over his driveway.  An ultimate "lion tail" situation in this Torrey pine!
Larry went on to explain how the previous owner had "someone" come to trim the tree and this is what they did. The Torrey pine was basically half gone on one side except for the very top lateral branches.
There were large 3' long dead stubs sticking out from the main trunk. Larry explained how the "tree guy" who was cutting, just left abruptly after the owner of the tree cam home to realize what was happening to the tree. The owner of the tree was not happy.

As Larry kept going on about the "mess", I was noticing the birds squawking and screeching with their routing banter.  Larry said, in a sarcastic tone,
"isn't that lovely"
I thought to myself, I guess these birds could get annoying if I lived here. However, the birds were here first before any of these houses here in Del Mar near the lagoon.
Eventually I told Larry I would love to help out but we would need to make a plan with seasonal phases. I pointed out that the tree is majorly un-balanced and I would need to focus on the heavy south side first. I also explained that Torrey pines should only be pruned in winter months as the trees tend to bleed sap and attract pests in the summer. He seemed to understand and I told him we could make a plan of action but that I would like to talk to the owner of the tree.
I eventually talked to the lady who owned the tree and I explained that I would not touch the tree until both neighbors agreed to make a plan. She was in agreement.
About a week later I received a text message from Larry asking when we could get the tree cut as he need to sell his house. I replied we can not touch the tree until winter -after it cools off and after bird nesting. He replied,
" I feel like I was sold a bill of goods, I thought you were going to help me".
I expalined my position again with his response of,
" I am willing to pay a premium to get this expidited"
I thought to myself, Back in the 1990s' I remember a tree service got caught on camera cutting a torrey pine as baby herons were falling down through the tree to their demise. The perpetrators who cut the tree were then caught dumping the injured birds in a dumpster. As an animal lover and nature enthusiast this thought of this just sickens me. I will do what ever I have to stop people like this who just want to sell to make a profit. Perhaps he was thinking that the birds not would be affected by cutting the tree, but come on people! Have some common sense please!
Some people who own trees do not have much respect for nature. Or some people who buy a house don't think about their neighbor before they purchase.

Long Branch Torrey Pine in Ocean beach San Diego

Now after 8 years the Torrey pine still stands in Ocean beach San Diego. Growing at "slant".

Tree proponents did speak,  The battle to save the Torrey Pine at 4633 Long Branch had been won.

Here is a link to the story about when we had the great opportunity to prune the great torrey pine tree after we deemed it safe.

https://obrag.org/2011/01/torrey-pine-trimmed-the-ob-way-a-photo-gallery/

I was hired by local tree activists to do an evaluation of the tree at 4633 Long Branch after the City of San Diego decided they wanted to chop it down.  Tree proponents and City staff clashed at the last OB Planning Board meeting over the fate of the tree, and the Board set another meeting to hear more views and reports about the Torrey Pine.  The Board gave each side 30 days to do more evaluations and have reports readied for their next meeting, set for this Wednesday, January 5th.

I did an evaluation of the tree, its foliage, trunk and roots, and concluded that the tree is healthy and is stable. I found healthy foliage and no movement or change from earlier measurements by the large 60 foot tree from recent windy storms. I also performed what’s called a root collar excavation (RCE), and found that its trunk bark is fully intact with no evidence of damage or decay.

Union Tribune and OB Rag

Sometimes the media writes things in the way that they see it versus the way it really is.
Although, I can say the OB Rag has done a good job of reporting what has been happening with the Torrey Pine tree on Long Branch Ave In Ocean Beach CA.
However I feel I must explain my view first hand. I and David Shaw both agreed that the Torrey Pine was healthy. However we agree that there is not enough data to determine exactly what is happening underground. There is no way to know what may or may not happen in there future.
The city is worried about liability and I don't bame them. Why can't they do more to limit the liability? I myself actually painted the lifted concrete trip hazard yellow -which was quite easy.
Does the city keep records of concrete sidewalk repairs? - That would help a little.
The City should at least allow the Torrey Pine to be pruned. The Torrey Pine at Long Branch Ave should be pruned correctly and not the way the trees were pruned on Saratoga. The trees on Saratoga are now top heavy. They were "lion tailed". The lower foliage has been stripped up and nothing was done to relieve end weight.
People should educate themselves before they have an opinion about trees in San Diego CA.