We see a few, albeit very few, acorns in MD (not none). Friends at the Smithsonian's Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, MD told us that there is a pattern of low, medium, high, low mast production that helps foil squirrels and others that try to profiteer too much on the seed production. From the Post article, this varies from one oak species to the next. There's the possibility that low production for several species overlaps this year. The other point made in the Post article made was that the heavy rain we had during the all-important pollinating period in the Spring may have been a major driver of this year's low production. The question in my mind is: What alternative sources of over-winter food are there for species that rely on acorns and what other environmental ripple effects might we see?
Cordially yours, Geoff Patton, Ph.D. 2208 Parker Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902 301.221.9536
