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The cone crop on Balsam Fir, White Spruce and Black Spruce in virtually
all of Cape Breton is one of the largest I have seen in the past 20
years. My impression is that this time of year many regular feeder
visitors, squirrels and birds prefer to partake of natural foods.
Certainly there is an abundance of spruce and balsam seeds available
this year. =20
=20
DBMcC
=20
=20
DB McCorquodale
Department of Biology, Cape Breton University,=20
1250 Grand Lake Rd., Sydney, NS B1P 6L2
david_mccorquodale @ cbu.ca
902-563-1260
=20
Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods)
http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/bschome.htm
<http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/bschome.htm>=20
=20
Department of Biology, Cape Breton University
http://discovery.capebretonu.ca/biology
<http://discovery.capebretonu.ca/biology>=20
=20
CBU Faculty Association Research News
http://www.cbufa.ca/news/
=20
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of James W. Wolford
Sent: November 10, 2009 4:09 PM
To: NatureNS
Subject: [NatureNS] How is the wild food supply?
=20
My reaction is like Randy's, for here in Wolfville we had/have lots of
mountain ash berries (our crop this year was heavy, and many remain);
also multiflora rose has done extremely well this year in producing
oodles of the apparently delectable small hips, and this species is
incredibly abundant and widespread in the Wolfville area (come to
Wolfville in late June to see for yourself how abundant they are when
the white flowers suddenly appear everywhere); and I think our local
hawthorns have also done well this year and are abundant in some areas.
=20
Cheers from Jim in Wolfville
=20
Begin forwarded message:
From: Randy Lauff <randy.lauff@gmail.com>
Date: November 10, 2009 7:45:17 AM AST
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] How is the wild food supply?
Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
=20
Here in Antigonish, there is a huge Mountain Ash (possibly Rowan) crop.
Well above the average. White Spruce and High-bush Cranberry are also
doing well; neither holly is obviously in fruit. Robins and Pine
Grosbeaks should do well, I suspect.
=20
Randy
2009/11/10 Blake Maybank <maybank@ns.sympatico.ca>
10 November 2009
Nothwithstanding the presence of some stellar bird rarities right now
(and certainly more to be discovered), I've heard concerns from several
observers across the province that the number of birds they are
accustomed to seeing at their feeders or on walks is way down. And
that is my impression as well. I have the usual resident species at my
feeders (chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, doves, jays, juncos and
sparrows), but their numbers are low, and on walks in the woods or
coastline, the landbirds are in short supply. And I suspect, though
can't prove, that this is due to an absence of wild food.
There are certainly very few berries around, and the berry production
this past summer was not aided by the poor weather, but the cone crop is
also poor, and there seems to be less grass and other seeds about.
I'd be curious to learn the impressions of other observers across the
province. Is the wild food crop in poor shape? Do you think the
numbers of land birds is down over "normal" years? I suspect that the
Christmas Bird Counts will reveal a more clear picture, but they are
still more than one month away.
What is the situation in your "neck of the woods"?
Cheers,
Blake
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
White's Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada=20
_________________________________
RF Lauff
Way in the boonies of
Antigonish County, NS.
=20
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<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The cone crop on Balsam Fir, White Spruce and Black =
Spruce in
virtually all of Cape Breton is one of the largest I have seen in the =
past 20
years. My impression is that this time of year many regular feeder =
visitors,
squirrels and birds prefer to partake of natural foods. Certainly =
there is an
abundance of spruce and balsam seeds available this year. =
<o:p></o:p></span></