Thursday 26 September 2013

Re: [Maine-birds] Status of winter mast in Maine

Hi Stella et al.

For northern Maine, bird food situation is pretty much as Ron Pittaway detailed it for adjacent Canada:  
Spruce and Fir cone crop good/heavy but not bumper.  Pine cone production seem about average to light but there aren't a lot of Pine trees up this way to judge.
Mt Ash are tilting to the ground with the abundant load of berries.  Likewise Highbush Cranberry.
Apples are good where the late freeze didn't kill the blossoms in late May.
Nuts are decent with beech and hazel producing about average to good.
Don't know about birch and alder yet.

In summary, there's plenty for the birds to eat if they make it here.  I agree that the exceptionally wet summer has set up the northeast Maine/eastern Canada with supplies to make for an easy winter food-wise.  The birds may not have to roam far... With the exception of occasional Purple Finch and regular Am. Goldfinches I haven't run in to any of winter irruptives yet this month.

A couple Snow Geese have arrived with the hordes of Canadas, and Lesser Scaup and Pintails are showing in good numbers in central Aroostook.  Saw a Red-necked Grebe at Arnold Brook Lake yesterday.

Cheers

Bill


On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 6:37 AM, Stella Walsh <stellawalsh@earthlink.net> wrote:
With the winter finch forecast out, I'd be interested in hearing the status of the cone and fruit/nut mast around the state.

OK, Derek, Bill, Bob, Jeff, Peter, et all-what are you seeing?

Stella

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Bill Sheehan
Woodland, Aroostook Co., Maine
http://northernmainebirds.blogspot.com/

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