Witches' Broom | Sycamore

The area around Starved Rock State Park near Utica, Illinois, is one of the most scenic Illinois has to offer. The Illinois River cuts through the area and was one of the few areas in Illinois not flattened by glacial drift.

This beautiful tree on the bank of the Illinois river is a Sycamore, known as the London Plane. Often planted in the Victorian area to help quell the London pollution caused by the Industrial Revolution, this tree has been a stable of urban development. It can incur a disease known as the Witches Broom, causing the shoots to bunch up which also offers a natural nest for nearby birds.

Camping on the edge of the Illinois after a trip to Starved Rock, I set up my tripod to capture the active birds at sunset, but then this Sycamore caught my eye. The composition of the eerie branches against the beautiful purple glow of the setting sun was mad even better by the birds passing through the area.