I believe the theory is that stress in the spring, e.g. drought, will 
stimulate heavy acorn production, whereas in a wet spring there is no stress on the 
trees and they don't make a lot of acorns.   Anybody remember what last spring 
was like?   Being of the elder persuasion, my short-term memory of last spring 
has evaporated.

PaulO'Brien
Rockville, Mont. Co., MD


In a message dated 3/15/05 4:43:34 PM,  writes:


> There are several very large White Oaks on the compound where I work in
> DC(23rd & E Streets, NW).  Normally in the fall, the area under these trees
> turns into a hardhat zone due to the constant rain of acorns from above.
> The local squirrel population is in a frenzy gathering and burying the mast.
> This past fall, I don't recall the oaks shedding any acorns whatsoever.  Any
> theories as to why - amount of summer rainfall, periodical cicadas or,
> perhaps, the will of the forest dieties?
> 
> Tom Marko
> Olney, MD
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maryland Birds & Birding
> To: 
> Sent: 3/15/2005 3:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] absent Jays
> 
> Interesting point. Now that you mention it, we did have far fewer nuts
> in general this past fall. Our woods are a mix of poplar, oak, and hickory,
> and in past years we've had many nuts on the ground, but last fall was
> rather "tidy."
>