Skip to Navigation Skip to Content
Decorative woodsy background

Site Discussions

Michael Herrick
May 25, 2018

I agree with Dave that the dark ones seem to appear later than the yellow ones.  I’ve never noticed that when they do appear they look any less mature than the yellows.

I’m wondering if anyone has noticed that morels may have something like mast years.  Last year I found many more than I ever had in over 10 years of covering the same ground,  this year, though conditions seemed excellent I found many fewer than I’ve ever found, and the ones I did find were in areas where I’d never found them before, while the areas that almost always produce well were bare.

From "Two Species or One?" »

Andy Crosier
May 25, 2018

Dave, Thanks for the morels. They were better than bacon with my breakfast! Tried to attach the pic but failed. Technically challenged? Your summer “Northern Woodlands” magazine is a beautiful piece of work! Thanks to all who put so much into it. I also have a far greater fondness for our Ash trees after your article. Thanks again, Andy

From "Two Species or One?" »

Laura Jacobs
May 23, 2018

We have a Shantung maple that we’ve had for many years. Precipitation was down over the winter here. It is now spring going into summer and our tree has leaves on the outer part of the tree but the inside is bare. Do you think it might be getting a late start or is it dying? We have never fertilized it, so we are going to do that. Should we give it extra watering?

From "How Do Trees Know When to Leaf Out in the Spring?" »

Cat Young
May 22, 2018

I appreciate the article and the comments as well. These creatures turn up in my bathroom, and now I wondered whether to release her outside or what. Searching the web, most articles assume we only want rid of them. Pest companies suggest glue traps and so forth. That feels wrong. Thanks to you all for enacting gentler solutions.

From "Make Room for Daddy, Who Will Cause No Harm" »

Doug
May 22, 2018

Looking at the chart at the bottom of the article, what does the column time mean?

From "When a Tree Falls in a Forest" »

Mc
May 20, 2018

I am fascinated by the corvids. I have been feeding both American Crows and Fish Crows in my suburban back yard for a few years now.I love feeding all birds in general but the crows and blue jays are standouts for me in particular. It has prompted me to read up on them.  I have read a few books by John Marzluff on the crow and Bernd Heinrich’s book on Ravens. If you’d like to learn more about these complex and highly intelligent creatures, I highly recommend those authors. (sorry I don’t have the titles handy right now..) I think either Nova or Nature also has a special on crows that you can view on YouTube. Their intelligence level is considered to be on par with that of a seven year old. (Ravens are considered even smarter than crows….) They play, conceal food from and spy on one another, recognize friend or foe via facial recognition, and communicate that information to their community… They gather to “witness “ and probably learn from the death of a fellow crow when one of them has died too. I have enjoyed learning about them. I do wish I understood more about how they communicate with one another.

I do agree that different birds have distinct and recognizable voices or calls. I can clearly tell the difference between some of my local birds. One of the crows who I believe might be the male of the pair that visit me daily, is quite bold and will come within 3-4 feet of me. If i’m late with the morning “meal” he will fly up to the kitchen window and peer in and call to me. It’s pretty hilarious! I love the interaction and I feel lucky to have be in these fab birds trust! I feed my guys unsalted shelled and or unshelled peanuts, left over eggs, sometimes berries or dried fruit. They especially seem to like the leftover PB&J sandwich scraps. They need to have salt free food and chocolate is considered toxic for them. Thanks for the interesting article and I enjoyed reading what Kevin McGowan had to say as well!

From "Crow Communication is Cawfully Complicated" »

Janet Taylor
May 18, 2018

We live on a farm and had morning doves around for years. They seemed to have disappeared. We haven’t had any for 2 going on 3 years. We really miss their gentle cooing. Any thoughts on why they aren’t around.

From "The Secret Life of the Mourning Dove" »

John Ross
May 17, 2018

This morning a juvenile raccoon visited my patio and checked out my Main Coon cat. They were close to being the same size and Max the cat wanted in now!  Once in he growled and was tense. The raccoon went to the back yard and smoothly and effortlessly climbed 20 feet up a 100 foot fir tree.
Later a group of scolding crows caused me to see the raccoon half way up the tree where he was casually crossing on branches to a second, then a third tree.

From "Raccoons: It's All In The Hands" »

Phil Martino Jr
May 17, 2018

Nicely written.

From "How Do Toads Avoid Croaking in Winter?" »

Greg Lowell
May 17, 2018

Out here along the Front range in Colorado EAB has become a huge problem - all because a firewood company thought it would be a good idea to bring a grapple load of ash from Missouri to Boulder County. Too bad, because green ash is a popular tree here and does well in this semiarid climate.

From "Emerald Ash Borers" »

Cathy
May 16, 2018

This is my first time having mating doves, watching them build their nest, and now sitting on their 2 eggs. At first we were sad when moma bird left the first egg, but after reading your posts, now I understand she wasn’t going to incubate until the second egg came along.I have learned so much from everyone els’s posts, thank you all for sharing your stories. We’ve given her seeds and water, and she looks happy. She even let me sit out on the porch with her for a few minutes. They are so beautiful !

From "The Secret Life of the Mourning Dove" »

Declan McCabe
May 16, 2018

There are soil-injected and tree-trunk injected products. Rather than getting into the specifics of chemicals here I think it best to refer you to some expert literature such as this piece by extension professors from four states: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/documents/Multistate_EAB_Insecticide_Fact_Sheet.pdf

From "Emerald Ash Borers" »

Mary Alice Osborne
May 15, 2018

In the article, it is stated that: “EAB can be checked by injecting insecticides into the soil every other year.” What type of insecticide is used? We have several beautiful old ash on our property we would love to be able to save. Thank you.

From "Emerald Ash Borers" »

Ellen Symons
May 15, 2018

Thanks for this article, Susan Shea, and for the ensuing discussion. I’m looking forward to reading updates on The Tick Project!

From "A Plague of Ticks: Scientists Search for Solutions" »

Carolyn
May 14, 2018

I love a man who can use the word “debouche.”  :)

From "Roots" »

Dave Anderson
May 14, 2018

There is also some intangible “genetic memory” that compels us to seek certain places that speak to us - intangible qualities to the landscape which are hard to define. Places that seem somehow familiar even the first time we visit. What is that place-based energy? Feng shui or some distant tribal memory or affinity?

From "Roots" »

Collin Miller
May 14, 2018

Glad you found a purpose for box elder…Some years ago, I spent part of a summer working for the state cutting them off of flood levees along the Susquehanna. I never knew the heartwood could be so intriguing. Also, great comments about secondary wood uses…couldn’t agree more. I’ll look into the stroller-forwarder combo. Wood is Wonderful.

From "Use It or Lose It" »

Philip Lussier
May 13, 2018

The reference to the pile of stones brings to mind a talk I heard last spring on the subject of ceremonial stone structures. A wikipedia reference talks about the subject here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_stone_landscape

From "Roots" »

Carl Strand
May 12, 2018

Connecticut has been addling mute swan eggs for a number of years now.  I live on the Mystic River and the swan population has decreased from nearly a hundred birds to one or two pair now.  The river still shows the deprecation of vegetation from the past, but more mallards and black ducks are back in the river now.  Canada geese are now more of a problem than the swan.

From "Mute Swans" »

Judie
Apr 29, 2018

For the past 16 years, I have eagerly looked forward to the return of the wood thrush to my suburban DC yard. He filled my days with his haunting and magical song. He has not returned this year. I am lonely and heartbroken.

From "The Disappearing Wood Thrush" »