Giles County birds

[Jim & Judy Phillips]

Yesterday, we picked blueberries in Giles County, near Rich Creek. From the berry patch we heard or saw the following: common raven, n. mockingbird, gray catbird, rose-breasted grosbeak, field, chipping and song sparrows, scarlet tanager, red-eyed vireo, yellow-billed cuckoo, r.-t. hummingbird, tree swallow, chimney swift, towhee and wood thrush.

We also saw a bald eagle near Pembroke.

Going toward Blacksburg, east on Rt. 460, we noticed a hillside on the right where the trees don't look like they are doing well. It is between the cut-off for Newport and Pandapas Pond, probably on the Giles/Montgomery County lines. Anyone know what is going on there? Are there gypsy moths there?

Jim & Judy Phillips

Pipestem, WV

[Tom Reisinger]

Jim & Judy:

The defoliated trees that you noticed in the Newport area are the result of a heavy infestation of gypsy moth.  I was just out on a client’s property this morning who is thinking about salvaging the infected mixed oaks (the preferred species of the caterpillars) before they die.

Tom

 

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[Jim & Judy Phillips]

Thanks Tom. Sorry to hear about that.

Jim