By NANCY JANE KERN
TRIPS AROUND THE COUNTY give a rough survey of food sources for birds and animals, and so far, things look pretty good this year. During tough 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. Deer bite out chunks and open them up for turkeys and 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, so food is 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. Fox, 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 different kinds of crab apples available. Some are sweet tasting this time of year and the robins and cedar waxwings are already trying them. The other trees will be left alone until spring when the crab 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. Deer, squirrels, and turkeys are eating the abundant acorn crop found in some areas this year. Multiflora roses have red rose hips, and the deer pull them off around my field. 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 of 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.
We feed the birds all winter which helps them, but things look good for those existing on naturally available foods this year. 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.
