Site Discussions

Thanks David. What a fun story.

I’ve camped amidst the detritus of logging camps—old buckets, boots, saw blades, pots, etc. As I sit there in the wilderness, I try to imagine what it looked like as a bustling logging camp during its heyday. Love these photos—brought back memories of hikes in the mountains along the old logging RR lines. Thanks for sharing them.

Hi, interesting article. This morning while I was working on an old house, I could hear Pileated’s yammering close up in the woods.I know all the woodpeckers. The drumming was not loud and hollow sounding, that would come from an adult. But definitely from one of those. Question, do you think that it was from a young one drilling on a tree? Or is it too early for them to be fledged? Anyway, I sure love to see them as they do their thing!! Thank you, Gary E. Greene

Nice article.  A few years back while hiking the Long Trail I stopped at one of the shelters to rest before cooking supper.  As I layed there I had the feeling something was watching me. I looked of my shoulder and a garter snake was on a waist high piece of blocking only a foot or so away with it’s tongue flicking to get my scent.  He stayed while I cooked my meal.  I held my flavor packet to him so he could scent it. He acted similar to a family pet with his show of interest. Thanks for the interesting work.

Bob, the seedlings were donated by the American Chestnut Foundation. Check out their website to learn more. Chris, I don’t have an official answer—maybe someone else does—but I know that historically the tree grew naturally over on the Taconics side of the Valley of Vermont at least as high as 2,000 feet in elevation. I think red oak in southwestern VT might be something of an indicator. If it’s a good oak site, it’s probably a good chestnut site and there may have been chestnuts there historically.

How high an elevation could you go with a Chestnut tree?

I have two in my yard in Montpelier that I bought from East Hill Nursery. They were selected from local stock in Berlin that is still doing well. The one I planted five years ago is now 20’ tall and bore a nut last year. The other, 4 years old, is coming along nicely too. Both flower profusely and the flowers are gorgeous!

Great article. I found it because we have a nesting pair of goshawks on my grandmother’s land in South Wheelock.  Their nest is apparently right next to our main walking trail.  One attacked our neighbor and cut open her head.  Yesterday the big one kept buzzing within a few feet of us while we worked on the spring. I am afraid one of the kids will be attacked next.

Any advice for making their nesting area less desirable? There is plenty more woods away from the trail. I need this pair to relocate.

Encouraging news and a great way to start my weekend.

This is really good news. When I was a kid growing up by a creek in Van Buren County, Cummingsville, Tn., there was a big chestnut tree just up the hill from the creek, and each year, we would eat the nuts from the tree.  I suppose that was about the time the blight came through. We moved away while the tree was still alive.  I went back some years later, to see what looked like a lighting struck tree. Other than the poem about the blacksmith under the chestnut tree, that was the only chestnut tree I was ever aware of.  But I am glad they might be making a come back.  And I hope I live long enough to see some of them. Thanks to these people who are planting them up in Vermont.  May it be…

Where did the Chestnut seedlings come from? I’d like to try a planting on our property in SE Minnesota.

Would this same drive cause birds to tear up window screens? Never had a problem before, but a friend had a bird destroy a dinner plate size area of a window screen in the south side of her house.

Another pitch pine fan. Everyday on my bus ride home, I admire these gnarled but graceful trees, evoking wilderness and calm. By cover of night I dug up a smallish tree from the nearby woods, about 4 feet tall. I dug around it, then pulled, bringing the taproot with it. I planted it a couple of days ago, when the heat just started to kick in. Wonder a) if it will survive, b) if it will grow at a moderately fast rate. Thanks.

My house was framed with Garland Mill lumber purchased from Tom Southworth in the late 1970’s. Every time I look at the timbers, I think of that wonderful old mill and its wondeful owners and operators.

Bruce Kirmmse

I see a mud nest about six inches high near a creek water flow area near a grass field in country type setting. Is that a red winged blackbird nest or robin or walking type bird nest? Or is it for snakes because it is dug in ground about 1 1/2 inches wide?

Hello Penelope,

It sounds like your Titmouse is as determined as my Junco - who is still at it!

Thank you for writing and for the compliment.

Carolyn

Your article on frog metamorphisus is interesting.  I am just now learning about their development as they laid eggs in my little dogs plastic pool.  Looks like I will be tending tadpoles all summer.  However I have noticed that new tiny tadpoles keep hatching, so it looks like the frogs have been returning at night to lay even more eggs.  I currently have about several hundred in a 4’ wide pool.  I hope this will be large enough for them to complete their transition to frogs.

To:  Nancy Verba → in Wonder Lake Illinois

Hi Nancy:

Most likely you’re seeing meadow voles and/or shrews. Meadow voles often frequent the ground beneath feeders to eat seed.

Short-tailed shrews can often be seen in similar locations, but would most likely be stalking a meal of meadow vole.

If, when the snow melted from around the base of your feeder this springtime, you noticed shallow burrowings along the surface of the ground, and little piles of bunched up grass, then you definitely had meadow voles.

Best,

Michael Caduto

Patricia → in Bridgewater, NH

The ultrasonic echolocation sounds made by a shrew are above the range of human hearing.

Shrews do, however, make several other sounds that humans can hear, especially when they’re being territorial. It’s possible that, with the number of critters you had living in your roof space, the shrews were encountering other animals and marking their territories with calls.

Thank you for sharing your interesting experience.

Best,

Michael Caduto

To: Lisa Jean → in Ontario, Canada

Dear Lisa Jean:

It’s hard to tell for certain without more details, but—judging from the size, color, boldness of the animal and it’s fondness of dog food—the animal that was eating your dog’s food was likely a northern short-tailed shrew. Hungry shrews will commonly come out into the open to get food.

Best,

Michael Caduto