Barberry (was [NatureNS] Bayberry)

From: "Dave&Jane Schlosberg" <dschlosb-g@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <20150201153915.E9KH8.56895.root@tormtz04>
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2015 17:48:39 -0400
Importance: Normal
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects

 tree swallows can be found in these area&
Barberry (Berberis) is edible but highly acidic.  It's used in Iranian 
cuisine and in parts of Russia.  Wiki it.  There's an interesting article.
Jane Schlosberg

-----Original Message----- 
From: plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2015 4:39 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Barberry (was [NatureNS] Bayberry)

I appreciated Anne's description of Barberry - we also have one growing in 
with a fine row of blackberries along my parents' driveway, and it's a 
menace.

I have never observed a bird eat the fruit of barberry - does anyone know if 
any bird or other creature does?

Patricia L. Chalmers
Halifax

---- Anne Woolaver <awoolave@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,

>
> This shrub has the most horrific thorns - so fine and innocent-looking, 
> but feel just like needles going in! In my prime blackberry-picking 
> territory, a barberry has come up right in the middle of one of the most 
> prolific patches.  Each year, the barberry branches seem to extend further 
> outward, and the blackberries are forced to reach higher and higher to 
> come out the top and into the sun.  All I can do is look longingly at 
> loaded canes that only a knight in full armour could get to!  Makes great 
> bird habitat though - one fall after the leaves were down I found what 
> must have been a perfectly protected nest right below the top of the bush.
>
>
>
> A. Woolaver
>
>
>
>
> From: dwebster@glinx.com
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] A Flicker of hope ....
> Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2015 08:02:54 -0400
>
>
> Dear All,
>     I planted a Bayberry in our yard about 1967, by good fortune a female, 
> and it cropped just about every year from about 1972 until it became weak 
> about 2000 (Died about 2005; shade/roots of Crack Willow and Black Cherry 
> I suspect). It became huge BTY, about 7' tall and 1" at the ground.
>     The berries have a thick coat of wax beads so 'lipid' rich. The bush 
> was readily seen from one Kitchen window and one Dining Room window. Crows 
> fed on the berries every year, usually in late winter, often hanging 
> upside down while they fed. But we never saw a Flicker feeding on them.
>
>     I recommend it as a yard plant if you have open space especially now 
> that it has a probable Flicker connection; no care needed.
> Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Ken McKenna
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2015 9:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] A Flicker of hope ....
>
>
> Hi all
> I hope I am not passing on mis-information. For some reason thought that 
> this is why flickers in winter are often found where there is bayberry but 
> I am now not 100% sure of this.  Certainly other birds such as late 
> yellow-rumped (myrtle) warblers and I think tree swallows can be found in 
> these area
>
>
> Well I just did a Google and indeed both red-bellied woodpeckers and 
> flickers like bayberry. Apparently they have a very high fat content.
>
>
> Cheers l
> Ken
>
> Ken McKenna
> Box 218
> Stellarton
> NS B0K 1S0
>
>
>
> On Jan 29, 2015, at 9:29 PM, katefsteele@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
>
>
> That also explains the flicker or two that were seen several times at 
> Grand Desert Beach last winter where there is hardly a tree. I hadn't put 
> much thought into why they were at that location!
>
>
> Kate
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Bell network.
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Keith Lowe
> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2015 9:15 PM
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Reply To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: RE: [NatureNS] A Flicker of hope ....
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Liking bayberry would explain their presence at Rainbow Haven then. There 
> are at least 4 – 6 of them wintering there this year.
>
>
>
> From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] 
> On Behalf Of Ken McKenna
> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2015 8:37 PM
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] A Flicker of hope ....
>
>
> Hi all
>
> In Pictou co. Most overwintering flickers are near sources of bayberry and 
> here that is often near the shore like caribou I , Melmerby pp and big I.
>
> This year on Pictou hbr Cbc  the Vines had 6-7 flickers nicely decorating 
> one tree near the entrance of Pictou hbr and in the middle a red-bellied 
> woodpecker. The odd one shows up elsewhere like Pictou town which is 
> coastal in a way.  We rarely have missed getting a number of flickers on 
> this count in the nearly 25 years of my doing this count.
>
>
>
> On the Springville count which runs an inland tangent from the Pictou hbr 
> count we rarely get flickers- not a lot of inland bayberry.  My thoughts 
> anyway for what it is worth.
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
> Ken
>
> Ken McKenna
>
> Box 218
>
> Stellarton
>
> NS B0K 1S0
>
>
>
>
> On Jan 29, 2015, at 8:16 PM, David & Alison Webster <dwebster@glinx.com> 
> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hi Keith,
>
>     I have not seen one of these plots before; very impressive. What is 
> the difference between a blue balloon and a red one ? Assuming the pointed 
> end is the location marker, nearly all are near salt water or in the 
> warmer end of the Annapolis Valley (when viewed at large scale); suggests 
> aversion to cold.
>
> Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
>
> From: Keith Lowe
>
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
>
> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2015 11:19 AM
>
> Subject: RE: [NatureNS] A Flicker of hope ....
>
>
> Hi Ron,
>
> Welcome to the list.
>
> Northern Flickers are in range for overwintering in the western half of 
> the Nova Scotia mainland.
>
> You’ll have to zoom in but this map shows eBirded Northern Flickers in 
> Jan/Feb for the last 10 years. Click on “Show Points Sooner” on the right 
> side of the page.
>
> http://ebird.org/ebird/map/norfli?neg=true&env.minX=&env.minY=&env.maxX=&env.maxY=&zh=false&gp=false&ev=Z&mr=on&bmo=1&emo=2&yr=last10&byr=2005&eyr=2015
>
> Keith Lowe
> Halifax
>
>
> From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] 
> On Behalf Of Ron Wilson
> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2015 10:31 AM
> To: Nature NS
> Subject: [NatureNS] A Flicker of hope ....
>
>
> ok - its just a play on words.....
>
>
>
> We've been hosting a Northern Flicker at our feeders this winter.
>
> Yesterday my wife Heather heard a noise in the back yard and looked out to 
> see TWO Northern