Cone Found in yard...

[gthang]

Wanted to know, since It was found near a row of coniferous trees, and maybe get some habitat information to help find birds.

[Jane Turner]

Where is MF when you need him?

[StevieEvans]

Hey!
If you lived "over 'ere" you could phone our Governments Special Cone Hotline for info.....

;)

I believe the cone in the picture is from Pinus freewayus commonly known as the MotorWayfaring Tree.

Jane
Dont worry i think 'conehead' is Still writing up his list of Birds of Northumberland which i 'spotted' for him 2day ;)

Stevie.

[gthang]

Yeah, this question was direction at BF's resident conehead, where the heck is he!!!?

[Screech]

Looks like it may be a Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) a common evergreen in eastern NY. A photo of trees would help.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Gthang & all,

This one's a White Spruce (Picea glauca)

Michael

Too tired after being out birding all day, to go on-line y'day ;)

[Michael Frankis]

Here's some White Spruce cones of my own to compare

Michael

[helenol]

Whilst we're on the subject, what is this, found on a road in Santa Monica, CA?

[Michael Frankis]

Whilst we're on the subject, what is this, found on a road in Santa Monica, CA?
This one's Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis), a popular ornamental tree in southern coastal Calif, from the Canary Islands.

Michael

[gthang]

Now, If I remember correctly, those trees would have been shipped from western Africa? Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco?

No, I didn't look at any maps!

[gthang]

So Michael, any pointers on Identifying cones?
Like seed size, or cone size?

[Jane Turner]

Hi Gthang & all,


Too tired after being out birding all day, to go on-line y'day ;)

You getting past it?

[Michael Frankis]

Now, If I remember correctly, those trees would have been shipped from western Africa? Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco?

No, I didn't look at any maps!
Yep, spot on!

Michael

[Michael Frankis]

So Michael, any pointers on Identifying cones?
Like seed size, or cone size?
Hi Gthang,

Bit of a complex one - but it is very much like identifying birds, you use different parts for different species, just like using size & tail pattern for Downy/Hairy Woodpeckers, but other features for different difficult birds. Overall, cone size and seed size are valuable, so are scale shape, shape & position of any umbo (the 'knob' on each scale of the cone Helen posted), colour, surface texture (glossy or matt) and so on.

I've been collecting cones since I was 6 so pretty much recognise most of them instinctively now - same as you do for common birds, you instantly put the right name to it, but without always knowing exactly why.

Michael

[Michael Frankis]

You getting past it?No - because of far too many late nights going through Bird Forum! (takes about 3-4 hours now to go through the day's accumulation of BF posts . . . maybe I'm answering too many . . . )

Well, yesterday, the sleep deprivation finally caught up with me

Michael

[gthang]

Get some sleep Mikey boy! The less people sleep, the crankier people get (Especially when you're too tired to concentrate on work!). The More people sleep, the crankier people get (especially when they wake up late for work!)

[Michael Frankis]

Yeah, wish I could . . . just now, the list of threads to read is growing faster than I can read them . . . He-e-e-elp!!

Michael