I believe there were posts here or on Facebook about Red Crossbills feeding in gum trees as well. James Muller On Wed, Jan 31, 2018, 7:10 PM Joseph Lautenbach <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi All, > > I had the day off from work, so I went to Delaware SP and surrounding area > this morning. While I was there I encountered the previously reported > Common Redpoll (at least 2), Pine Siskins (at least 6), and very large > flock of American Goldfinch (~200). It was fascinating watching these birds > forage in the sweetgums, I watched them for 30 or 40 minutes. I recently > moved to Ohio from further north and had no idea that sweetgums provided a > valuable food source. I thought it was very interesting to see northern > species like redpolls and siskins foraging on a relatively southern tree > species. I was also curious as to whether the finches were drawn to the > sweetgums because of quality or quantity. > > Once I got home, I tried to do a little research on food quality of > sweetgums. I was able find a manuscript focused on pen-reared quail food > preferences (Journal of Wildlife Management, 1945). In the manuscript, they > discuss protein and fat levels of various wild food sources. Sweetgums > average almost 15% crude protein, a pretty high content, not as high as > other species tested, but in the upper tier of native species evaluated in > the study. Given the number of sweet gum trees in the area and the > relatively high nutritional value, it is no wonder there are so many > finches there. I would have to assume that sweetgums may be difficult for > other species to access. > > The whole time I was there, the only other species I saw foraging on > sweetgum was the Carolina Chickadee. I would be curious to hear what other > species people have observed foraging on sweetgums (specifically on the > seeds, I would imagine woodpeckers would forage on decaying and dying trees > for insects etc.), as well as more information on the value of sweetgums as > a food resource. I'm new to Ohio, so I don't have a ton of experience with > sweetgum, any information would be interesting to me. > > I checked other sweetgums in the state park for finches, but did not see > any today. The Sweetgum picnic area was a little more sheltered from the > wind than the other other areas I saw lots of sweetgums. Given the strong > winds today, perhaps all the finches were concentrated in the picnic area > to avoid wind. On a less windy day the finch flock may disperse more to > take advantage of all the sweet gums planted throughout the park. > > I also saw the northern shrike that was previously reported along Panhandle > Road at the Delaware Wildlife Area. It was great to see some northern birds > today. > > Best, > > Joseph Lautenbach > Delaware, OH > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Please consider joining our Society, at > www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] > ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]