Re: raining acorns

And another response from Habitat Stewards in Pasadena who
contacted a local bird expert, Claude Edwards.

 
Claude's reply:
 
Good day.  These birds are very likely our native and wild Band-tailed
Pigeons (Columba fasciata) which consume acorns as part of their normal
diet.  They typically occur in woodlands and forests in our back-country
foothills and mountains, where they are not as readily observed, as well
as this kind of interesting, but normal, behavior.

Band-tailed Pigeons prefer to collect and consume the acorns from within
the trees themselves so that they are not exposed to the threat of
potential predators if they were to feed on the ground.

Also, during the past several weeks, there has been a conspicuous
movement and occurrence of typically 'northerly' and 'montane' birds,
such as Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) and Pine Siskin
(Carduelis pinus), to the lowlands and along the coast of southern
California.

This suggests that it will be a cold wet winter.  It may also result
from depleted food resources in their normal ranges brought on by the
region-wide drought.  The pigeons may be part of that exodus and taking
advantage of appropriate food items that may become available to them.

I hope this helps.

Claude G. Edwards
San Diego, CA

At 07:29 PM 11/8/2004, you wrote:

  Here in Pasadena, California, it's the time of the year when acorns,
  from
  the Oak trees which line our streets, are falling like rain, from
  some
  trees.  There is a species of bird, which looks like a dove or
  pigeon, that
  works the trees, causing the prodigious downfall.
  Has anyone seen this phenomenon?  Do you know the species of bird and
  what
  they are after in the trees?  The activity of the birds seems
  directed at
  making the acorns fall, but they never seem to retrieve them.

  Regards,
  Doug

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
  To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
  message text UNSUBSCRIBE WOODYPLANTS

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE WOODYPLANTS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index