Site Discussions

So maybe into a paper, into the woodstove if they don’t belong here, and have the possibility of changing forest composition?

Beautiful!  It felt like I was skiing along with you. Thank you for such a scenic trip from my couch.

Do you know of a case where someone found a gun barrel as a property corner?  I am a surveyor and now a surveyor instructor at RRC Polytech in Winnipeg, Mb, Canada.  I would be thrilled to find a picture of a gun barrel property corner (or anything out of the ordinary)  Or even a copy of original field notes showing a gun barrel being found as original evidence.

Well written.  Very enjoyable perspective!

I love how each type of turkey has a name.

Thank you for this article - a joy to read on a cold day while the blue jays and juncos are busy in my back garden. I will be sharing this with friends.

I’ve known about that reserve for close to 40 years and dreamed about going there.  In the early 80’s I hauled up to Maine every year with fishing friends always looking for that unique place.  Ice fishing, fall fishing, and sometimes flying into remote spots in the Spring right after ice-out.  It was a paradise.  Two of them were old enough to remember fishing before the Golden Road was built.  When I first joined them, the paved road ended at Kokadjo Maine.  We had quite a few adventures burying vehicles into mud on logging side roads we had no business driving on.  The trip to Eagle/Churchhill was one of the most memorable and where we learned we were only 5-10 miles from Spider where the Reed Reserve was. There had been a very brief mention of this Pingree untouched forest in a New England magazine.  It was memorable not for the fishing but because the blackflies literally ate the underbelly of Sampson the amazing fishing dog till he was blood red.

Mourning Doves I have feeding here in western Maine mountains (around 10 pair) are not bullies at all. Jays, Finches and Sparrows do the majority off bullying and hogging the feeder or ground seed. Why would anyone favor a raggedy Robin over a beautiful and glowing Dove?

As a graduate of PennState in environmental biology ( many years ago), and as a Pennsylvania resident, I really enjoyed your article. I find that I too think of myself as a bird, I store fat quite well this time of year, however, I don’t find myself flying south either! Thanks for reminding me of all those avian facts!

Thank you for the lovely article on juncos!

Beautiful article and drawing.
Thank you.

I’m wondering if anyone knows whether crows have a certain word or call that tells the group it’s time to fly (away, off a tree). If so, please let me know. Thank you, Sharon

Lise, it is definitely Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus), which is commonly planted as an ornamental, and is, unfortunately, still sold in some plant nurseries.

I love this newsletter, I have learned SO much! Thank you all for every one of these!

This is an excellent piece of natural history writing: personal reflection, concise information, and reference to an expert in the field.  Well done!  So little of this is seen in short nature writing.

I truly enjoyed your article on sparrows and look forward to more!

I hope these fungi are not generalists that will infect and kill insects, spiders, and other arthropods. Insects are an important part of every food chain.  Biocontrols for Gypsy moths have been implicated in massive declines in other moth species in areas where they have been used. Caterpillars are the major food source for birds feeding nestlings.  Birds are showing great declines. BE VERY CAREFUL.

Invasive species are our biggest threat! The Federal Government needs to do all it can to prevent invasive species, at our Ports of Entry into this country, regarding All Imports from foreign countries. Once the invasive species are here, we will Never Get Rid Of Them! Its worth the investment up front.

Working in the woods when the weather is right, is so rewarding! Nice job.

VERY interesting!