do birds eat sumac berries

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio The Chautauqua Christian Academy had an excellent showing at the National Christian School basketball tournament.

The Defenders finished third in Division 5, losing only to the eventual champions out of Maryland in the quarterfinals.

In the consolation game, the Defenders, who had a respectable season, definitely saved their best for last, defeating Faith Christian from West Virginia 67-60 in a come-from-behind overtime win.

Down by five points with a minute left in regulation, CCA scored on baskets by Marcus Ryan and Sawyer Lynn to send the game into OT. In overtime, the Defenders kept the momentum going. It was back and forth until the final minute when Lynn drained a corner trey to put the Defenders up for good.

Lynn finished with 19 points, including three 3-pointers. For the game, CCA was led by junior Marcus Ryan, who finished with 34 points on just 22 shots, which included five 3-pointers. Hunter Edwards had 10 rebounds and Kayden Peterson continued a season of outstanding defense. Ryan and Lynn were named to the All-Tournament team.

There are certain things we want to be true, but the evidence isn’t very strong. I was determined to include Gray Catbirds and Eastern Phoebes on the list of foods to eat. Mostly insect eaters, they also eat fruits and seeds. But I never saw them eat a berry. Does that imply, however, that it doesn’t occur because I never saw it?

However, we must have faith in these information sources in order to use them. What I believe in might not be the same as what someone else believes. How often do we consider that trust? Is the source’s claims supported by evidence, and if so, how strong is that evidence? Furthermore, once we accept a source as reliable, is that acceptance permanent, or do we need to periodically reassess?

Some birds were put on the eating list very quickly. During the afternoon, a group of more than twelve American Robins moved in. They were literally flying with red berries as they tried to stuff their stomachs. For extended periods, blue jays perch in the tree and nibble on the berries. They frequently get one in their mouth, tilt their head up, and appear to be straining to swallow, bouncing their head and throat a little. This could be the appearance of a Blue Jay storing food in its gular pouch, which is a location in their upper throat. Where they carry it to is another question.

I began with a query and used my observations to determine the answers. I wanted to know what this tree does for the birds. Simply noting a bird’s presence in the tree and adding it to the list of birds that use it wasn’t sufficient. Since there are so many other bushes and trees nearby and birds can perch on a variety of objects, including telephone wires, roofs, and sign posts, giving them a place to perch didn’t seem like a necessary service. However, food was a vital source of support, so I observed who was consuming the berries. I determined that seeing a berry in the bird’s mouth was sufficient evidence for me to add a bird to my eating list.

It took some time for black-capped chickadee to be added to the list of foods to eat. Chickadees were frequent visitors to the bird feeders, so it stood to reason that they would also frequently visit the towering sumac. However, I was unsure about consuming the sumac berries. Chickadees hop rapidly, almost frantically, from one cluster to another, pecking at the ground. It seemed as though it was searching within the cluster for something. But what if these berry clusters were an insect? Perhaps a pupating larva? I could curl up in these for the winter. Curious, I went outside and picked apart a cluster of berries. It was filled with a lot of frass, or insect poop, but no actual insects. So perhaps the chickadee was looking for insects after all.

The Defenders were only defeated in the quarterfinals by the eventual Maryland champions, who finished third in Division 5.

At the National Christian School basketball tournament, Chautauqua Christian Academy performed admirably. MOUNT VERNON, OH

The Defenders, who had a respectable season, saved their best for last in the consolation game, defeating Faith Christian of West Virginia 67-60 in a thrilling overtime victory.

Lynn finished with 19 points, including three 3-pointers. Marcus Ryan, a junior, led CCA in the game and finished with 34 points on just 22 shots, including five 3-pointers. Hunter Edwards pulled down ten rebounds, and Kayden Peterson kept up his stellar play on defense this season. Ryan and Lynn were named to the All-Tournament team.

With one minute remaining in regulation, CCA was down five points, but Marcus Ryan and Sawyer Lynn’s baskets put them ahead and forced overtime. In overtime, the Defenders kept the momentum going. Up until the very end, when Lynn scored a corner trey to give the Defenders a permanent lead, it was back and forth.

FAQ

What eats sumac berries?

Ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and about 300 species of songbirds include sumac fruit in their diet. It is also known to be important only in the winter diets of ruffed grouse and the sharp-tailed grouse. Fox squirrels and cottontail rabbits eat the sumac bark.

Is sumac poisonous to birds?

Staghorn Sumac is quiet safe to humans as well as birds. In fact, the berries can be gathered and soaked in cold water to make a sour-flavored beverage.

Do cardinals eat sumac?

Some of the cardinals’ favorite trees include mulberry, serviceberry, flowering dogwood, crabapple, and spruce. Shrubs at the top of their feeding list include staghorn sumac, red-osier dogwood, gray dogwood, and viburnum species.

Do bluebirds eat sumac?

A Bluebird’s Diet During the early spring and late fall, when insects are less plentiful, the bluebirds will dine on sumac seeds and honeysuckle, as well as several types of berries and grapes. They also have been attracted to feeders using nut meats, suet and raisins.