Thrushes also like Devil's Walking Stick
(http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=10)
which grows abundantly in our yard alongside several large Pokeberries.
Robins and Cedar Waxwings like both of these and will descend on them in
large numbers and pick them clean. Devil's Walking Stick is almost a
nuisance though as the many, many berries will start growing all over
the place. But if you let them grow on the edge of the woods, they can
get to about 15 feet tall and have a substantial seed production.
Ernesto knocked down some of the seed stalks of our DWS and brought some
branches down on one of our large Pokeberries (they're not very strong).
Still there's plenty left to go around!

Tyler Bell

California, MD

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On
> Behalf Of Hoffman, Mark
> Sent: Friday, September 22, 2006 9:11 AM
> To: 
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Feeding frenzies - pokeberry version
> 
> Jim - You are not alone, but I think I've taken it to the next level
(P.S.
> don't call them pokeweeds, it hurts their feelings and image!).  .  I
have
> actually planted/cultivated a pokeberry hedgerow along the entire
length
> of one side of my backyard, adjacent to my neighbor's dog fence.
Mulch
> 'em, weed'em too.  Then in the "swamp" (the undeveloped woodsy area
behind
> the yard) I have nutured my prize specimen, a collection of pokes that
> probably measures 12 feet by 12 feet, and this time of year is about
> equally as tall.  No catbird goes unfed.  It's also part of a plan to
get
> Bicknell's Thrush for my state lost.
> 
> My family and friends already have their doubts about me, so i'm not
too
> worried about MY image.
> 
> Mark Hoffman
> Sykesville, MD
> 
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: 	MICHAEL SPEICHER [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:	Friday, September 22, 2006 07:12 AM Eastern Standard Time
> To:	
> Subject:	[MDOSPREY] Feeding frenzies - pokeberry version
> 
> Georgia McDonald wrote:
> Our dogwood tree had a bumper crop of berries this
> year [clip] an evening feeding frenzy began that
> lasted for the next two hous...
> 
> I have an area that I have allowed to go wild and
> which has been taken over by pokeweed the last several
> years.  This food source has usually gone neglected
> until well into the winter months, but this year a
> family (?) of five mockers and more recently scores of
> robins have almost entirely depleted the pokeberries.
> Needless to say my neighbors think I'm unhinged :)
> 
> Jim Speicher
> jugornought-at-yahoo-dot-com
> Rockville @work :(
> Broad Run_S. FRED Co @home :)