Site Discussions

There is a large concentration of beech trees on our property in Westchester County, NY, including very mature trees and many, many seedlings.  Last year, noticed that the seedlings were suffering from some sort of infestation - many had died and the survivors had lost most of their leaves.  This year, the situation has worsened significantly, and the very large trees have empty branches or just a few leaves on their long branches. It is very sad to see such a loss to our woodlands.  Is a treatment in sight?  or will these majestic trees die and have to be cut down?

The straight, smooth branches of small striped maple saplings make excellent marshmallow-toasting sticks—a small but tasty use for this attractive small tree.

I would expect that EAB has bacterial and viral enemies, that living EABs are battling with their immune systems. Take a few hundred EABs and put them in a blender with water, killing the beetles and stopping their immune systems.  The viruses and bacteria that like EAB will reproduce in the slurry. 
Add the slurry to a liquid growth medium, and make a thousand gallons. Spray that from airplanes in areas with EAB and see how it works.

Striped maple stems are hollow and it is fun to make whistles from them. An added attraction for kids on hikes with parents!

Deer browsing on striped maple, or American beech, is indicative of too many deer on the landscape.  Biologists and land owners will use a ‘browse survey’ to prepare harvest prescription.  Yet, a very interesting and informative article.

I grew up eating burdock stems.
We always gather them around Mother’s Day.
I make a delicious breading of ground bread crumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese. I dip the cleaned stem in an egg bath and then in the bread crumb mix. I fry them in an avocado oil, my mum used olive oil.
Put on a paper towel and drain.
They are simply delish.

I was delighted to find one of these in my garden last July, so I enjoyed learning about them in your article. Thanks.

One of the most intriguing finds of my years in the woods was a cache of two dead porcupines in the ice below a large beaver dam in Franklin County, Vermont.  I watched them for several months after following a series of fisher tracks to the site, as the quills dragging along and partially covering the fisher tracks luring me in.  The porcupines were buried in mushy ice, belly up, and the smell of fisher was intense.  The site was left alone with occassional scent replenishment and tracks.  In late winter i found the site littered with tracks and the skin, head and quills still frozen in but the bones, meat and entrails all gone, clean as a whistle.  Does any one have observations or stories of fisher caches of this nature?

While I understand the appeal of ‘Forestry/Foresters for Maine Birds’ and enjoy seeing & hearing my feathered trail buddies, may I pose a thought experiment and ask how one might conceive of ‘Forestry/Foresters for Maine Reptiles & Amphibians’, among other potential topics (e.g.‘s, fungi, lichens, moss, etc.)  Herptiles appear to be among the many essential but threatened organisms in healthy ecosystems that may not receive adequate attention as we interact with our diverse environments in the unfolding climate crisis.

Yes, raccoons do have dominant hands…and most use the right one, but there are a few lefties!

Thank you. Such a timely story as I was out on a walk today and noticed so many in bloom. Great information.

My brother-in-law died of Powassan Virus - a few years ago - It was awful seeing him go down hill so fast.  He was such a great guy.

I am interested to learn about Stinging Nestle and where I can get the real plants.

We saw one flying in our backyard at night it was beautiful!!

Thank ou for opening up this world of forest bees!  A world larger than the honey bees in the hollow tree.

A fascinating article - another call for careful and sharp looking. And a call to get out the lichen books.

Thank you.

Best Easter egg hunt story! Such amazing information and lovely writing.

I have assumed I should clear an old nest at the end of summer, whether my pair of phoebes has raised one or two broods .... but last summer I failed to get rid of it. They have decided the top of the light fixture by the front door is a good place and I enjoy watching the activity so much from my kitchen. Should I clean it off now or wait for them to come and possibly reuse the nest from last year?

Thank you for sharing Conrad Baker’s story. He is a local gem!

Great article. I enjoy reading about birds, there is so much to learn. While some see the grackle as an annoyance, I see them as beautiful and enjoyable to watch as well.