Subject: [Tweeters] cone question
Date: Aug 4 14:59:56 2006
From: lpatters at ix.netcom.com - lpatters at ix.netcom.com


Thank you Ron and others for clearing up the fir cone mystery. We have been in this house for 12 years or so and see, and hear, the Douglas Squirrels all the time, but I don't remember ever having a bombardment like this. They should have a great year ahead of them.

Larry

-----Original Message-----
>From: Rob Sandelin <floriferous at msn.com>
>Sent: Aug 4, 2006 1:21 PM
>To: lpatters at ix.netcom.com
>Subject: RE: [Tweeters] cone question
>
>Douglas firs are connected to a small mammal called the douglas squirrel,
>which harvests hundreds of green cones, piles them up in middens then eats
>them all winter. The unclaimed cones can sprout if conditions are right.
>The squirrel also consumes and spreads the mushrooms which the trees need to
>survive. So your cone bomber if a little brown squirrel who is very
>territorial about his cones right now and if you mess with them he might
>come down and yell unpleasant things. I once had one little fellow get so
>agaited that I swept up his cones that when I laid the broom down to go
>answer the phone he chewed a big hole in the bristle end!
>
>
>Rob Sandelin
>Naturalist, Writer
>The Environmental Science School
>http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm
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>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
>[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of
>lpatters at ix.netcom.com
>Sent: Friday, August 04, 2006 1:02 PM
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: [Tweeters] cone question
>
>Tweeters,
>
>Early Monday morning I awoke to the thump of Douglas Fir cones landing on
>our metal roof. That went on for an hour or so. The only bird species I
>could ID up in the tree tops were Juncos and a Black-headed Grosbeak, so I'm
>going to blame it on Grosbeaks. Just new green cones were coming down and
>none looked chewed on.
>
>A bit down the road, under a medium sized Douglas Fir, lay a couple hundred
>green cones. Yesterday someone must have swept them up. This morning it
>looked like someone had put them back on the road. All the cones are
>closed. What sort of a stupid conifer reproductive plan is this?
>
>Larry Schwitters
>Issaquah
>
>
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