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

Hi Stella et.al.,

 

The Downeast area of Cutler, Whiting, Machiasport and Roque Is in Jonesport has a bumper crop of Mountain ash and green alder (extremely abundant).  The cone crops for black, white and red spruce appears average or slightly less along with balsam fir, larch and northern white cedar. 

 

The cone crop in the Tomhegan Township area on the NW side of Moosehead Lake also appears similar.  Nothing jumps out.

 

Like Bill, I do not run into many large white pines.  The Witherod crop looks good (a wild raisin; Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides).  Along with Mt. ash, it should be good eating for Bohemian waxwings, hermit thrushes, Am robins and other fruit-eating species along the eastern Maine coast between Lubec and Schoodic Point.  Unfortunately, it is hard to predict how much fruit will be left after the fall migration. 

 

As to predicting the winter crop for Mt. ash, witherod and other fruit-bearing shrubs, there have been many years in the Downeast area when waxwings, robins, hermit thrushes, white-throated sparrows and other fall fruit-eaters clean off the fruits before the end of the year.  Locally Downeast, fruit-eaters linger during mild falls and clean off the trees and shrubs.

 

The catkin development on the birches looks average but is too early to tell.

 

In the Augusta area, the acorn crop seems below average.  Likewise, the Am beech nut crop does not look spectacular. 

 

That's it.

 

Happy fruit watching.

 

Norm from Augusta

On Thu, Sep 26, 2013 at 6:35 AM, Bill Sheehan <bill.j.sheehan@gmail.com> wrote:

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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