Site Discussions

Thanks for the interesting info on balsam trees. We had lots of balsam on our Canadian property, and I was always intrigued by their bark blisters. Wish I had known about “twig boats”!!

Nice article. I forwarded it to Adele Robertson, an international language teacher who grew up part of her life in Grafton, VT. Her father was Gordon, paternal uncle, Norm. Her mother’s side (French-Canadian) was also from Grafton, her maternal grandfather a police officer. Adele loves Vermont and Grafton. I sent her iPad photos from that lovely town when I last visited it in 2021.

You’ve got your head in a good place. Best wishes, Robert

I am a small forest owner, 25 acres in western NJ.  Your definition of silviculture as an art and science, really resonates with me.  And reflecting on how our activities now will look in 25, 50, 150 years.  You have me thinking.  We have too much deer damage, and I don’t think I would have a crisis of mind or heart to cull a few.  But the work afterward, getting the carcass to the taxidermist and using or distributing the meat, that is a deterrent.

Enjoyed your interview.  Congratulations on continuing your family business in my family’s favorite vacation state.
Best wishes for your future success.

Tim, your initial statement about sizes of American shad size by sex is erroneous. Roe shad are much larger than buck shad.

Very interesting article. I always wanted to live in a house that had toads in its yard (since they are my favorite animal), so I was pleasantly surprised when a couple years ago we moved into our current house and found out we found such a house. Me and the kids set off on a mission to try and track if the toads were nomadic or backyard residents. We would take photographs of their back and journal how many times we would see individual toads. It has been fascinating. While most toads seem to disappear after a week or so, several would stick around or reappear after a time of absence. And we’ve seen about three or four who have returned from the previous year (mainly females). It has led me to wonder if males are more nomadic than females.; If any travel to the breeding pools and then return; what happens when we have a warm week followed by a drop in temperatures; and so forth. If anyone has any insight I’d love to know. I am so looking forward to the upcoming emergence of our backyard buddies.

I read my son-in-law’s latest issue of Northern Woodlands during our Easter visit this past weekend.  I read something about a honeybee taking flight in the Spring to check the air temperature?  It was so beautifully written and something I want to pass along to my human sister bees.  Can you direct me to the article in which it was mentioned?  Oh and YES!  I have subscribed to my very on copy of your magazine.  Living in the midst of corn and soybean fields makes your woodlands even more appreciated!

Hello! I was out on a walk at west rock in new haven yesterday and was wondering what type of coniferous tree makes tiny clusters of brown cones on the tips of the leaves/needles in spring? At first we thought it was new growth because each tip had a little brown bud, but they fall when touched and they are brown, not green. Tiny brown cones almost, about a mm or two wide, the same size as the leaves. The tree looked maybe similar to hemlock or juniper. There were some small seedling trees and some medium sized adult ones but they weren’t enormous. (Taller than us, but not immense). The needles grew in messy clusters and bunches.  Do you know what tree makes very tiny seed cones at this time of year? Have looked up pictures but can’t find it. Thanks!

I am a direct descendant of Zadock Pratt. Totally separate, land we own in NE PA has in the deed the right of the prior owner to come upon the property to strip hemlock bark.

What I have not noticed in the woods, for a couple of years, is Spring Tails. As a back country skier, I spend a lot of time in the woods, Snow Fleas have always been a hallmark of spring skiing, I have seen none. Where are they?  Thank you, Gale Wood

With all the tornado activity going on in the mid-west, etc., I was curious as to why we in New England see relatively few, if any, tornadoes.  I had always assumed it had to do with topography and you validated my thoughts.  Thank you for your insight.

Excellent article.  This should be required reading for all state legislators across the northeastern US.  Looking forward to the next installment.

We have a pair of Northern Harrier that feed in the fields in front of our home. They may not survive much longer because they want to put solar panels in that field and all the surrounding fields.

The word for world is forest!
Absolutely love this and the infographic is stunning.
Thank you so so much for this.
I hope everyone spreads the word.

This was an EXCELLENT and fair overview of the forest carbon cycle and how we as forest managers can influence sequestration rates, carbon storage, and make our forests more resilient in the face of climate change. I particularly appreciate your inclusion of carbon storage via long-lasting forest products, your explanation of higher rates of sequestration in younger forests vs higher carbon storage capacity in older forests, and reminder that managing for one single outcome is often at the detriment of the broader system. Great job with this!

Very well written article. I look forward to your magazine and enjoy everything about it.

Thank you for this first installment, and for those coming on this important subject.  As a conservationist and grouse hunter I’ve read other information on carbon sequestration vs. carbon storage - wondering where the value of a diverse age structure in a forest vs. a mature forest fall in our efforts to mitigate climate change. Articles, written by experts in the field of forestry, can come to different conclusions on this, adding to my confusion.  This piece, by Alexandra Kosiba, is a great start down the road toward enlightenment for me!  It is well written and makes complicated science interesting and understandable. I’m pulling for a good mix of young forests in all of this.  The value emerging forests hold for wildlife has to be considered as truly important, as is the use of our forests for so many things.  Ms. Kosiba has shown her appreciation for this, and it is welcomed.

Wondering whether small mammals tunnelling in subnivean space is define as ‘lair’? Lair is a generic term comprising many types of shelters, dens…. The Mirriam-Brewster dictionary is used for legal terms and has the generic descriptions of the word ‘lair’ but not specific to wildlife species’ structures. It seems that small mammals tunnelling in subnivean space would fit under this term.
I would like to know what you think and for advice.
Thanks
Rene

We just saw at least 30 hawks circling overhead in our yard in East Hampton, NY. They all settled in a tree in our neighbor’s yard, and then flew up again. They have been circling for about 15 minutes in the same spot, and crying out.

Unfortunately for us the porcupines on our woodlot in Downeast Maine are doing a job on our white pine. We have lost more small white to porcupines than we find acceptable. This saddens us because we like diversity on our woodlot and would prefer to leave the porcupines. Perhaps live trap and relocation. Any help on ideas, or how far to move them….we don’t think they have passports so Canada is out.