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

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

  _____  

From: NRVBirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:NRVBirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf
Of Jim & Judy Phillips
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 8:42 AM
To: New River Birds
Subject: [NRV Birds] Giles County birds

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

Thanks Tom. Sorry to hear about that.
Jim