Comments for Outside My Window http://www.wqed.org/birdblog A Bird Blog with Kate St. John Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:32:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 Comment on Winter Trees: Black Cherry by FOLKWAYS NOTEBOOK http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/02/08/winter-trees-black-cherry/comment-page-1/#comment-15958 FOLKWAYS NOTEBOOK Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:32:29 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=46297#comment-15958 i will be looking for the burnt potato chips -- good way to remember how to ID the black cherry tree -- Thanks -- barbara i will be looking for the burnt potato chips — good way to remember how to ID the black cherry tree — Thanks — barbara

]]> Comment on Winter Trees: Black Cherry by Kate St. John http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/02/08/winter-trees-black-cherry/comment-page-1/#comment-15953 Kate St. John Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:30:49 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=46297#comment-15953 Yes, choke cherries and black cherries are related. They are in the same genus -- Prunus -- along with plums, peaches, apricots and almonds. Perhaps the cherry trees didn't grow well in Europe because they need a particular organism in the soil in order to thrive -- or because they're susceptible to a foreign pest. Similarly, we would have learned quickly about the Emerald Ash Borer if someone had tried to grow our ash trees in Asia. Maybe someone did. In any case, we have the bug here now and are learning about it the hard way. :( Yes, choke cherries and black cherries are related. They are in the same genus — Prunus — along with plums, peaches, apricots and almonds.

Perhaps the cherry trees didn’t grow well in Europe because they need a particular organism in the soil in order to thrive — or because they’re susceptible to a foreign pest. Similarly, we would have learned quickly about the Emerald Ash Borer if someone had tried to grow our ash trees in Asia. Maybe someone did. In any case, we have the bug here now and are learning about it the hard way. :(

]]> Comment on Winter Trees: Black Cherry by Mary Ann Pike http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/02/08/winter-trees-black-cherry/comment-page-1/#comment-15952 Mary Ann Pike Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:36:40 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=46297#comment-15952 Interestingly, in a Phipps course I took on native trees and shrubs, we were told that an effort was made to grow cherry trees in Europe, but they could never get them to grow to a size that was valuable for lumber...they just became spindly invasive trees. You wouldn't think that the climate would be so different that they couldn't adapt (lots of successful non-native trees grow here). Interestingly, in a Phipps course I took on native trees and shrubs, we were told that an effort was made to grow cherry trees in Europe, but they could never get them to grow to a size that was valuable for lumber…they just became spindly invasive trees. You wouldn’t think that the climate would be so different that they couldn’t adapt (lots of successful non-native trees grow here).

]]> Comment on Winter Trees: Black Cherry by Faith Cornell http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/02/08/winter-trees-black-cherry/comment-page-1/#comment-15951 Faith Cornell Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:41:28 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=46297#comment-15951 Is this cherry tree in same family as the "choke cherry". When we had a house built in the 60s the lot was full of them, the birds loved it, and because they were close to the driveway we put in the cars were stained. We eventually had to cut alot of them down due to size, proximity to house itself but the black carpenter ants we found out, had eaten out the center of most of them & so falling over onto the roof was a hazard. Tree looks about the same bark style. Is this cherry tree in same family as the “choke cherry”. When we had a house built in the 60s the lot was full of them, the birds loved it, and because they were close to the driveway we put in the cars were stained. We eventually had to cut alot of them down due to size, proximity to house itself but the black carpenter ants we found out, had eaten out the center of most of them & so falling over onto the roof was a hazard. Tree looks about the same bark style.

]]> Comment on Winter Trees: Black Locust by Ramona sahni http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/02/01/winter-trees-black-locust/comment-page-1/#comment-15936 Ramona sahni Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:02:38 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=46055#comment-15936 how beautifully you write Kate! how beautifully you write Kate!

]]> Comment on Full Moon, Let’s Talk by Vince http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/02/07/full-moon-lets-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-15924 Vince Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:16:11 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=46293#comment-15924 You should hear what the barn owls sound like here in the states. The wildlife comes to life at night and lulls you to sleep. I will miss all this when I leave the earth. Time goes by in the wink of an eye. Enjoy as much wake time as you can. You should hear what the barn owls sound like here in the states. The wildlife comes to life at night and lulls you to sleep. I will miss all this when I leave the earth. Time goes by in the wink of an eye. Enjoy as much wake time as you can.

]]> Comment on Full Moon, Let’s Talk by Nannie U. http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/02/07/full-moon-lets-talk/comment-page-1/#comment-15920 Nannie U. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:37:07 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=46293#comment-15920 hooo! hooo! who cooks for youuuu! hooo! hooo! who cooks for youuuu!

]]> Comment on Time To Wake Up by Anne Curtis http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/02/02/time-to-wake-up/comment-page-1/#comment-15887 Anne Curtis Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:00:16 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=46044#comment-15887 I was born and reared in Pxy, so am entitled to be skeptical! People--I tell you it's a SCAM!, but one that is very worthwhile for an embattled little town that had grown in the 1900's on timber and coal. and has seen hard times thereafter. Think on it. If he sees his shadow, it's 6 more weeks of winter. If he doesn't, it's 42 days 'til spring. When you do the math, you find that March 21 (First day of spring) is exactly on point! I hate to debunk, but, guys, it is a SCAM! Long live Phil! Anne I was born and reared in Pxy, so am entitled to be skeptical! People–I tell you it’s a SCAM!, but one that is very worthwhile for an embattled little town that had grown in the 1900′s on timber and coal. and has seen hard times thereafter.

Think on it. If he sees his shadow, it’s 6 more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, it’s 42 days ’til spring. When you do the math, you find that March 21 (First day of spring) is exactly on point!

I hate to debunk, but, guys, it is a SCAM! Long live Phil!

Anne

]]> Comment on Pairing Up by Kate St. John http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/02/05/pairing-up/comment-page-1/#comment-15886 Kate St. John Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:48:04 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=46351#comment-15886 Doug, The satellite map is indeed disturbing. It breaks my heart. Doug, The satellite map is indeed disturbing. It breaks my heart.

]]> Comment on Pairing Up by Steve Gosser http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/02/05/pairing-up/comment-page-1/#comment-15875 Steve Gosser Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:32:18 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=46351#comment-15875 I blew my pictures up to look at the bands but unfortunately it wasn't quite clear enough to read any numbers. This bird which let me get the closest had a Blue / green band on the left leg and a purplish band on the right. The other bird that was keeping more of a distance from me also had a blue / green band on the left but had a silver band on the right leg. Both Peregrines stayed out at the point the whole time I was there but would occasionally move between pieces of driftwood. The closest bird would let me get very close by walking very slowly and several times I was within 10-15 yards and he would never move!! I blew my pictures up to look at the bands but unfortunately it wasn’t quite clear enough to read any numbers. This bird which let me get the closest had a Blue / green band on the left leg and a purplish band on the right. The other bird that was keeping more of a distance from me also had a blue / green band on the left but had a silver band on the right leg. Both Peregrines stayed out at the point the whole time I was there but would occasionally move between pieces of driftwood. The closest bird would let me get very close by walking very slowly and several times I was within 10-15 yards and he would never move!!

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