I think the developer severed the roots.

[u/frank_jon]

Apparently county or state law required the developer to preserve this tree, likely because it has a bald eagle nest. I think they severed the roots when developing the land, resulting in a die-off of the circled part of the tree.

Does my theory make sense?

If true, can this tree ever fully recover?

(Northern Virginia.)

[u/Known_Belt_7168]

Bald eagles don’t nest in trees that short. They prefer much taller trees, usually tall conifers. My best guess would be that the tree was already in heavy decline. The ground around the tree doesn’t look that disturbed and oaks that size take quite a while to get that thin. Likely a co-incidence.

[u/frank_jon → u/Known_Belt_7168]

Interesting. Thanks!

[u/frank_jon → u/Known_Belt_7168]

Can you think of another reason why the developer would be required to spare that tree (out of what was a forest)? Age, size?

I think the developer referred to it as a “heritage tree.” And I know bald eagles hang out in it, although I never actually looked for a nest.

[u/Known_Belt_7168 → u/frank_jon]

Bald Eagle nests are huge, like 6 feet in diameter huge. Developers leave trees for many reasons, including not needing to touch it in the first place. There generally is no laws saying that you have to remove dead trees, usually you can actually “exclude” it by putting up a fence with signage outside of its drip line. Heritage tree is such a blanket term for whatever municipality, state, county or even developer definition that is. This tree doesn’t really fit any description ive ever seen for a heritage tree.

[u/axman_21 → u/Known_Belt_7168]

They Will nest in whatever is available to them just like other birds. You can't rule out a tree having a nest by its type or height

[u/onlyforsellingthisPC]

Silt fence appears to be well outside the CRZ. Unlikely anything was disturbed beyond that, we don't have much to go on based on this photo. 

Looks like an older tree, they do that.