[TN-Bird] From Last Spring's Freeze - Some Nuts & Berries Made It
- From: "David Stone" <rockyturf@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:05:27 -0400
The Cicadas (we called them July Flies when I has a kid) are making so much
noise that what few high-pitched bird I might hear are drowned out. Therefore,
I have been observing those I can plainly see.
Now that we are into the middle of summer I have a few observations about
the damage to nuts & berries from the hard April freeze. Here in Ooltewah at
The Honors golf course I have seen some Hickory trees with some nuts on them.
It is hard to say but I would guess they do not have nearly as many as normal.
Many of the Hickory trees do not have any nuts but there does not seem to be
any rhyme or reason. Some that have nuts are in high spots but some are also in
low areas that tend to get colder on cold nights. The leaves on these trees
were almost totally blackened by that freeze (some still have some black leaves
hanging on).
We have some Southern Red Oaks with some acorns but I have not seen any
acorns on any other oaks including White Oaks.
Some Mulberry trees had some berries although they were about 3-4 weeks
later than normal and not very many. I saw an American Robin eating some on
June 17 that were not quite ripe (I have seen birds eating them before they are
ripe other years also).
The freeze did not hurt Blackberries but the lack of rain did. Some berries
dried up on the vine. We have gotten some rain relief the last three weeks and
there are still a lot of berries that made it. Most of these are smaller than
normal. There are still some that are not yet ripe. Birds have been busy
feeding on them as I have seen Red-bellied Woodpeckers, American Robbins,
Northern Mockingbirds, European Starlings, Summer Tanagers, Scarlet Tanagers,
Eastern Towhees, Orchard Orioles & House Finches all eating them this week.
Virginia Trumpet Creeper does not seem to be hurt at all by the freeze or
the dry weather. I see lots of blooms and seedpods on them. That is some good
news for this winter as I have seen lots of birds eating seeds out of the pods
in winter.
We have a fair number of Dogwood trees that have berries. I also saw a
Persimmon with fruit on it today. We have walnuts but I have not seen any
Blackgum berries.
I assume some of the state wildlife people have or perhaps are still
surveying to see what food will be available for wildlife and birds but that is
what I see in a very unscientific survey at the golf course here in southeast
Tennessee.
David Stone
Ooltewah, Tn.
Hamilton Co.
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