Blue Jay Caching
If this Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) looks a little strange…or lumpy…it is because it was hard at work caching last month. All of those acorns will not store (or plant) themselves! They are said to be able to carry five acorns at a time and store several thousand over a productive fall season. I wonder how many it will be able to remember come winter, and how many will be left after squirrels, chipmunks, other rodents or birds take their share… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreFall Fun Facts
Have you ever noticed how some deciduous trees retain their leaves while others around them are bare? I learned some interesting facts the other day about why that might be. Trees such as this gorgeous oak tree may retain their leaves once they die, referred to as marcescence, for a number of possible reasons. For one, retaining dried up, brown leaves could help protect the oak’s acorns or buds from bitter frost. It could also protect the growing buds from getting nipped by whitetail deer early in the spring. In addition, I’ve heard that for saplings it could be important to...
Read More
