David K. Wilson (1952 – 2025)

By NANCY JANE KERN

MAKING TRIPS AROUND THE COUNTY gives us a rough survey of food sources for birds and animals, and so far, things look pretty good this year. During severe weather, it is surprising what will be eaten. If you have a compost pile you may have witnessed some changes already. Ever wonder what happens to old pumpkins and squash, and the fields of them that are not harvested? If they are left until spring they freeze and get soft on warmer days. The deer bite out chunks and open them up for turkeys, other birds and smaller mammals.

If you pay attention there are incredible numbers of apple trees everywhere. Different varieties stay on trees for different lengths of time, making food available until spring. Deer will stand on their hind legs and pull off all the apples they can reach and visit trees regularly to eat the ones that eventually fall off. Foxes, coyotes and other animals we think of as meat eaters join in too. Birds will pick at larger apples but prefer the smaller crab apples.

There are two kinds of crab apples near my house. One is sweet tasting this time of year and the robins and cedar waxwings are already trying them. The other tree will be left alone until spring, when the apples finally gain the sugar content the birds enjoy.

Birch trees have seed-filled catkins loved by goldfinches, pine siskins and redpolls. These finches and the sparrows love the weed seeds along roads and in abandoned fields. A few weeks ago there was a pair of pileated woodpeckers wrapped in a tangle of wild grapevine eating the “raisins” with gusto. Wild turkeys are eating the abundant acorn crop of this year.

The multiflora roses produce red rose hips, and the turkeys will fly up on top of the dense rose bushes where the deer can’t reach, and perch on the springy cane. This can be hilarious to watch as they stretch out their necks and bounce up and down. We are envious of their disregard for all those thorns that tear us to shreds. High bush cranberries are so sour they will be left until spring. Staghorn sumac fruit is one of the most abundant foods for robins, bluebirds and woodpeckers. Other fruits are red osier dogwood, hawthorn and poison ivy berries. Evergreen stands of spruce and pine are important for their seed-filled cones. Northern visitors like red-and-white-winged crossbills feed on these and take shelter in the dense limbs and needles.

Feeding the birds all winter helps them, but things look good for those existing on naturally available foods. If you like to provide natural foods near your house consult a nursery for appropriate plants, shrubs and trees for your area. It is a joy to see all creatures well-fed for the tough times ahead.