Bony Palchaudhuri, Author at Coniferous Forest

Wood Thrush

Bony Palchaudhuri — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 13:27:57 +0000

The wood thrush is medium-sized bird native to North America. It is a close relative of the American Robin and the other thrushes.

Wood Thrush

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Turdidae
Genus	Hylocichla
Species	Hylocichla mustelina

Quick Information

Size	18 to 21.5 cm (7.1 to 8.5 inch) long
Wingspan	30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 inch)
Weight	48 to 72 g
Color	Adults: Brownish upper body and white under parts speckled with brown. It has white rings around the eyes, and the legs are pinkish. Juveniles: whitish mottled upperbody, dark underparts.
Distribution/Range	Their range extends right from southern Canada to northern Florida and from the Atlantic coast to the Missouri River and the great eastern plains. They migrate to the lowland areas of southern Mexico and Panama along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts during winters.
Habitat	Deciduous and mixed forests and to some extent in the fragmented forests and suburban parks with a good number of large trees. During winters, they are mostly found in the palm tropical forests in lowlands.
Nesting	Mid April to early May
Sounds	Flute like songs with three variations.
Lifespan	8 years
What do they eat	Soil invertebrates, larvae, fruits, and insects.
Adaptation	They use their slightly curved bill to turn over leaves in search of prey on the forest floor.
Clutch size	2-4 eggs
Number of broods	2 broods per year
Incubation period	12-14 days
IUCN Conservation Status	Near threatened

Wood Thrush Photos

Wood Thrush Bird

Behavior

These birds are known to be solitary, however, during winters they may form flocks with other bird species. Some individuals tend to defend their feeding zones. Territorial disputes are mostly settled without physical clashes, but while defending their nests, they resort to aggressive physical contact with their feet and bill. They also opt for other defensive action like wing flicks, tail flicks, raising the crest along with extreme measures like dives and strikes against predators like brown-headed cowbirds, southern flying squirrels, black rat snakes.

A peculiar behavior of “anting” is seen in these birds where they pick the ants and rub them on the wings. The reason behind it is still unclear however it is assumed that the birds acquire some medicinal utility through it or as a supplement of bird’s own preen oil.

Wood Thrush Images

Wood Thrush Nest

Breeding and Nesting

These birds are monogamous by nature. They begin nesting by the end of spring or early summer by choosing a vast breeding area, which is used for feeding and accumulating materials for nesting. The females usually choose the nesting site, but at times the male convinces her in site selection by perching nearby and singing.

They prefer tall trees that have an understory of saplings, shrubs with an open floor of moist soil, decaying leaves and nearby water source. Pale blue or bluish-green eggs are laid in a cup nest made out of mud, moss, dried leaves bordered by fine twigs or roots.

Wood Thrush Eggs

Wood Thrush Baby

Wood Thrush Song Video

Lifecycle

The female lays one egg per day till it reaches the clutch size of 2-4 eggs. When the chicks hatch, their body is totally featherless and eyes closed. Post-hatching, the brooding is done by the female for the first four days. Males and females together feed the chicks as well as clean the nest. The chicks fledge after 12-15 days, but the parents feed them until they become entirely independent. The chicks leave the parents territory after a period of 21-31 days.

Endangered

The population of the wood thrush is declining at an alarming rate, and threats like habitat loss, excessive nest predation and cowbird parasitism due to fragmentation of forest are key responsible factors.

Wood Thrush Flying

Wood Thrush Pictures

Interesting Facts

A German naturalist named Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789 first discovered the wood thrush bird. It became renowned for its sad melodious songs.
In Europe, wood thrush was twice declared as vagrant bird.
The common name is derived from Greek word denoting woodland and thrush which is also a translation of genus name.
It is the official bird of the District of Colombia.

Reference:

The post Wood Thrush appeared first on Coniferous Forest.

Eastern White Pine

Bony Palchaudhuri — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 07:34:30 +0000

Eastern White Pine is a tree native to eastern North America. It is a large pine tree with historical significance as the Iroquois (Native American Haudenosaunee) considered it as the “Tree of Peace” and chose it as a symbol for the unity of the Iroquois Confederacy.

Eastern White Pine

Eastern White Pine Tree

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Pinophyta
Class	Pinopsida
Order	Pinales
Family	Pinaceae
Genus	Pinus
Subgenus	Strobus
Species	Pinus Strobus

Eastern White Pines

Eastern White Pine Trees

Quick Information

Other Names	Northern White Pine, Weymouth Pine, White Pine, Eastern White Pine
Identification	Size – 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall Trunk Diameter – 3-5ft (1.0-1.6 m) Height – can grow up to 50-57.55m (164 ft) inch -188 ft 10 inch) tall. Leaves (Needles) – Bluish-green flexible leaves arranged in bundle of 5, finely serrated, 5-13 cm (2-5 inch) long Cones – Slender 8-16 cm (3.1-6.3 inch) long and 4-5 cm (1.6-2.0 inch) broad when open. Seeds – 4-5mm (0.16-0.20 inch) long with a slender 15-20mm (0.59-0.79 inch) wing. Bark– Dark gray colored, rough and scaly.
Distribution/ Range	It is found widely from Newfoundland, Canada till the Great Lakes region extending up to southeastern Manitoba and Minnesota in the United States and south along the Appalachian Mountains and upper Piedmont to northernmost Georgia.
Habitat	The tree is found in Elevated and sandy wood lands as well as in forested bogs.
Hardiness	Up to 3
Growth Rate	Slow growth for initial 2-3 years, later on grows rapidly between 10-15 years at an annual average rate of 1m (3ft).
Lifespan	200 years if undisturbed, exceeding maximum age up to 450 years.
Growing Conditions	Summer conditions– Moderate temperature (wiki) Winter conditions– Can sustain cold and snowy winters. Rainfall – Moderate to heavy rainfall. Sunlight – Grows well in full sunlight. Soils – Eastern White Pines grow in soil types like Spodosols, Alfisols, Entisols, Ultisols and Inceptisols.
Disease and Pests	Disease – Blister rust, Red ring rot, Root rot, Beech bark disease. Pests– White pine weevil, white pine aphid, white pine sawfly.
Flowering/Fruiting	Between May and June
Breeding System	Monoecious
Seed Development	Stratification of seeds takes place for 60 days at 33° to 41° F (1°to 5° C)
Seed Production	Seed production generally takes place in every 3 to 5 years, while some seeds are produced in the years in-between.
Wildlife value	Its seeds are a source of food for black bears, rabbits, red squirrels, and birds like red crossbill. Beavers, snowshoe hares, porcupines feed on the bark of the tree while birds like woodpeckers, common grackles, mourning doves and chickadees use the tree for nesting.
Cultivars	ps nana ps macopin ps paul waxman
Uses	Its lumber is mainly used for making Furniture and wooden articles. The tree’s sap has medicinal qualities of antibacterial and inner bark has ingredients of cough remedies. It is also used as a Christmas tree.
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern

Eastern White Pine Flooring

Eastern White Pine Lumber

Eastern White Pine Bonsai

Dwarf Eastern White Pine

Interesting Point

The British Royal Navy used the pine trunks for making masts for their ships.

Eastern White Pine Cone

Eastern White Pine Bark

Eastern White Pine Leaf

Eastern White Pine Needles

Reference:

The post Eastern White Pine appeared first on Coniferous Forest.

Coulter Pine

Bony Palchaudhuri — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 08:41:37 +0000

The Coulter pine is an evergreen coniferous tree native to coastal mountains of southern California and northern Baja California. Named after an Irish botanist and physician Thomas Coulter, this species is also found nearby Diamond Mines Regional Preserve located in the north of Mount Diablo State Park. Jeffery pine tree is closely related with Coulter pine and they commonly share their habitat with Ponderosa pine.

Coulter Pines

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Pinophyta
Class	Pinopsida
Order	Pinales
Genus	Pinus
Subgenus	Pinus
Scientific Name	Pinus coulteri

Coulter Pine

Coulter Pine Tree

Quick Information

Other Names	Big-Cone Pine, Nut Pine, California Coulter Pine, Pitch Pine
Identification	Size – 33 to 79 ft (10-24 m) Trunk Diameter: 3.3ft (1m) Leaves (Needles): Glaucous grayish green needle-like leaves arranged in bundles of three, 15-30 cm (5.9-11.8 inch)long and stout, 2 mm (0.079 inches) thick Cones: Large spiny cones, 20-40 cm (7.9-15.7 inch)long and weighs 2-5 kg (4.4-11.0 lbs) Seeds: Large brown seeds, 8 inches diameter Bark: Dark gray to black, deeply rugged with scaly ridges
Distribution/ Range	From Contra county in California, going southwards through the Coastal, Transverse and Peninsular ranges up to the Mexican border
Habitat	Found at elevations of 500-7000 feet on steep south facing slopes
Hardiness	Up to 8
Growth Rate	Rapid, can grow up to 10 feet per year
Lifespan	Long life (about 100 years)
Growing Conditions	Summer Conditions: Dry with occasional thunderstorms Winter Conditions: Infrequent rainfall Rainfall: Requires 35-60 inches of rainfall annually Sunlight: Tolerant to full sun Soil: Well-drained acidic soil with moisture requirements varying between moist and dry. Medium texture, gravelly or loamy
Disease & Pests	Diseases – Root rot, dieback, blister rust, blight, canker Pests – Pinewood nematode, scale, pine needle miner, pine weevil, bark beetles
Breeding System	Monoecious
Seed Development	Seedling development is best in mineral soil in open areas
Seed Production	Pollination: May and June Cone Ripening: August and September in the second year after pollination Maturity: Slowly over several years Seed Dispersal: October through November
Wildlife value	White-headed female woodpeckers of the southern race feed on insects on the tree’s lower trunk while males widely feed on cones; western gray squirrels use its seed as a source of food; black-tailed deer sometimes graze the young trees
Uses	Fuelwood, also as an ornamental tree for decoration
IUCN Conservation Status	Near Threatened

Coulter Pine Bark

Coulter Pine Pictures

Interesting Facts

Coulter pine’s cone is the largest and heaviest pine cone in the world that can weigh up to 10 pounds or more.
The pine cones killed old time loggers if it fell on their head and hence the loggers nicknamed the cone as “Widow Maker”.

Coulter Pine Cones

Big Cone Pine

Coulter Pine Needles

Pinus Coulteri

Reference:

The post Coulter Pine appeared first on Coniferous Forest.

Northern Spotted Owl

Bony Palchaudhuri — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 05:23:59 +0000

The Northern Spotted Owl, one of the three subspecies of spotted owls, is a western North American bird with a barred tail and spotted head.

Northern Spotted Owls

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Strigiformesa
Family	Strigidae
Genus	Strix
Species	S. occidentalis
Scientific Name	Strix occidentalis caurina

Quick Information

Other names	Tecolotemoteado (Spanish) Chouettetachetee (French)
Size	Height and Length: Approximately 18 inches
Wingspan	48 inches
Weight	1-2 lbs
Color	Dark brown with white oval spots on chest and belly
Distribution	Washington, Northern California, Oregon, British Columbia
Habitat	Old growth forests, Douglas- fir forest with high canopy layers and snags
Nesting	February or March
Sounds	Thirteen different hooting, barking, and whistling calls
Lifespan	10 years; 15-20 years (captivity)
What do they eat	Wood rats, flying squirrels, small mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects
Adaptation	Thick feathers provide insulation against cold, strong beak used for hunting, asymmetrically set ears for improved hearing
Clutch size	2-3 eggs
Number of broods	1 – 2 chicks each season
Incubation period	30 days
IUCN Conservation Status	Near threatened

Northern Spotted Owl

Northern Spotted Owl Range

Behavior

Intolerant towards habitat disturbance, a Northern Spotted owl couple requires a large amount of land for hunting as well as for nesting. They won’t migrate unless they come across drastic climatic changes like heavy snowfall which makes hunting difficult for them.

The nocturnal predators have a distinct flight pattern involving series of rapid wingbeats combined with gliding flight which provides stealth while hunting their prey.

Northern Spotted Owl Pictures

Northern Spotted Owl Images

Breeding and Nesting

Northern spotted owls are ready to breed at the age of two however they do not reproduce till they are three years of age. The mating takes place in February or March while they nest in tree cavities, broken-topped trees, and platforms from March-April.

Northern Spotted Owl Habitat

Northern Spotted Owl Flying

Lifecycle

After hatching, the young ones remain in the nest where a female owl takes care of them till they fledge in 34-36 days. The male hunts and feeds his offspring during this period.

The young owls stay with the parents until late summer or fall after which they leave the nest and form their winter feeding range.

Northern Spotted Owl Food Web

Northern Spotted Owl Baby

Controversy

After years of agitated negotiations between the logging industry, government, and conservationists, the northern spotted owl was designated as an endangered species. The environmentalists blamed the loggers for the decline of owl population, whereas the loggers retorted that they suffered from a loss of jobs due to the owl’s endangered status.

However, in 2011, a recovery plan was chalked out to conserve the owls by U.S Fish and Wildlife service with three points that included protecting their remaining habitat, restoring forest area via active management and reducing competition from encroaching the owl’s area.

Interesting Facts

These birds are an indicator species which means that their existence in the old growth forests is a sign of healthy ecosystem.
They are one of the owl species that have dark eyes.

Reference:

The post Northern Spotted Owl appeared first on Coniferous Forest.

Pacific Yew

Bony Palchaudhuri — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 07:02:34 +0000

The Pacific Yew is an evergreen coniferous tree which comes in small to medium sizes appearing somewhat like a large shrub. It is a native North American tree mainly found in moist, shady regions, and in the underlying layers of vegetation in dense forests.

Pacific Yew

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Pinophyta
Class	Pinopsida
Order	Pinales
Family	Taxacae
Genus	Taxus
Scientific name	Taxus brevifolia

Western Yew

Taxus Brevifolia

Pacific Yew Tree

Pacific Yew Bark

Quick Information

Other Names	Western yew, Yew brush, Yew, Mountain Mahogany
Identification	Height: 30-50 ft (10-15 m) tall Trunk Diameter: 50 cm Leaves (needles): Spirally arranged, 1 to 3 cm long, 2 to 3 mm broad Seed cones: Single seed 4-7 mm long, develops into berry called aril, 8-15 mm long, wide with an open end. They mature 6-9 months post pollination Male Cones: Spherical, 3-6 mm diameter Bark: Scale-like, papery thin, brown to purplish in color
Tree type	Evergreen
Fruits	Toxic, contain Taxine alkaloids(A & B); fatally poisonous for humans, horses, cattle and pigs
Distribution/Range	Pacific Northwest of North America, British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Southeast Alaska, central California, and Idaho
Hardiness Zone	5-9
Growth rate	Slow
Lifespan	Long-lived (300 years)
Growing Conditions	Summer conditions: Warm, dry summer Winter conditions: Mild, wet winters with tolerance to frost Rainfall: Can survive flooding and brief deluge Sunlight: Tolerant to direct sunlight Soil: Grows best on rocky, gravelly, moist, rich, deep soil including Ultisols, Alfisols, and Inceptisols
Diseases and Pests	Inclination to rot from within, creating hollow forms; no leaf disease, localized damage caused by blight
Flowering/Fruiting	May or June
Breeding system	Dioecious
Seed development	Germinate slowly; 30°C day temperature and 20°C night temperature is desirable
Seed Production	Ripening of fruit takes place from August to October in the same year of flowering
Wildlife Value	Offer food and cover to many wild species such as deer, elk, and moose
Cultivars/Varieties	cv erecta, cv nana, cv nutallii; Taxus brevifolia var. reptaneta, Taxus brevifolia var. polychaeta
Uses	Wood is used in lumber industry and for manufacturing various items like canoe paddles, gunstocks, carved figurines, furniture, musical instruments, bow staves, etc.
IUCN Conservation Status	Near Threatened

Pacific Yew Needles

Pacific Yew Leaf

Interesting facts

Pacific yew has great medical importance since it contains a drug Taxol, which is being used for Cancer medicine Research.
It is an attractive ornamental tree and is frequently used as a hedge plant.
Pacific yew wood was used by the Native Americans to make warring, fishing, and hunting tools.

Pacific Yew Fruit

Pacific Yew Tree Images

References:

The post Pacific Yew appeared first on Coniferous Forest.