Our several large hemlocks have a full cone crop this year as do our pines although squirrels have been hitting the latter very hard. Revenge was taken yesterday by a large female Cooper's Hawk which caught and ate a squirrel, while sitting on our fence in full view of the kitchen. Way to go!
However our trees are ready! Three+ years ago (during the last invasion) we had WW Crossbills in the hemlocks on several occasions including a bright male singing from the top-most branch in early spring 2009. We also had WW Crossbills at Woodend, again in hemlocks, that February. Birds were also seen in Douglas Fir and spruce however so it is worth checking other cone-bearing trees.
Just back from Peru so just refilling feeders so have not seen much of interest yet...
Gail Mackiernan
Colesville, MD
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Tyler Bell" <jtylerbell...>
To: <mdbirding...>
Sent: Friday, November 2, 2012 9:35:28 PM
Subject: Re: [MDBirding] Fwd: [PABIRDS] WW Crossbills- Hawk Mountain, Schuylkill/Berks
I seem to recall that hemlock was the preferred cone tree during the WWCR invasion a few years ago. It might pay to be vigilant for birds in hemlocks as with other cone bearing trees this winter!
Tyler Bell
<jtylerbell...>
California, Maryland
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