I saw the Redpoll this morning, and noticed Red-bellied Woodpeckers also flying around with Gum balls in their bills. James Muller On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 10:13 PM Steve Jones <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > ...makes me want to plant sweet gums. 😁 > > On Jan 31, 2018 9:09 PM, "Amy Downing" < > [log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > We look for Red Crossbills, Pine Siskins, and and all finches in the > ample > > supply of Sweet Gum in NW Ohio—Hancock County. > > > > > On Jan 31, 2018, at 7:12 PM, James Muller < > [log in to unmask]> > > wrote: > > > > > > 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] > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > > > 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] > ______________________________________________________________________ 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]