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Post by BuckSkin on Nov 11, 2021 7:00:16 GMT
Eastern Grey Squirrel in The Big Hickory This high-in-the-sky Eastern Grey Squirrel is way up there in the big Hickory that resides inside the graveyard. At least I think he is grey; it is hard to tell with the late evening sun burning through the bright orange leaves. Actually, this may be three completely different and unrelated squirrels, as that tree is always loaded with nuts. There are dozens of varieties of Hickories and there is something special about the particular type Hickory Nuts that this tree produces. Ever since we have owned this place, nearly thirty years, there has been this lady and her crew come every year and rake and collect several pickup-truck loads of the nuts from this tree; I once asked her if she eats them and she said no, that she has a contract with some medicine company and they extract some vital something or other from them that is in some sort of medicine. The amount she hauls away never makes a dent in what is there; my horse walks through them and it sounds like dry Hickory Nuts crunching under his hooves. Monday_08-November-2021    |
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Post by hmca on Nov 11, 2021 16:43:57 GMT
As always an interesting story to accompany your image. I have tried Google to identify these pods/nuts but haven't had any luck. I thought maybe from some kind of an oak tree? Any idea?  |
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Post by BuckSkin on Nov 11, 2021 18:01:03 GMT
As always an interesting story to accompany your image. I have tried Google to identify these pods/nuts but haven't had any luck. I thought maybe from some kind of an oak tree? Any idea? Looks like what we always called a River Hickory Nut; if that be what they are, then they aren't any good for cakes and cookies ---- at least that is what I have been told. Years and years ago, myself and a good friend and riding companion were on Green River, in what we always called The Corbin Bottoms, when we came upon a grove of River Hickory and the ground was literally covered with big nuts. My friend said we had better get a bunch to take home on account of his wife had given him orders to bring her a mess of Hickory Nuts to use in some sort of Christmas fudge that she always made. Thinking we would be commended and maybe even get a medal or something for our efforts, we were proud to present her with two sets of saddle-bags cram-full of nuts --- not to be so --- we nearly took a cussing instead "why, them's them old River Hickory nuts and they ain't fit to eat; why, the hogs won't hardly eat 'em; take them back where you found them and hunt me up some that I can use" I guess my current assignment is to go out here under our tree and get some photos of the nuts to compare with yours. I am thinking our nuts have a shell more like a Pecan; the Pecan is just a Hickory with another name. Grabbing camera and stepping out there right now..... |
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Post by hmca on Nov 12, 2021 0:34:51 GMT
Nice of you to look, BuckSkin. Here's a larger picture with leaves that could possibly help in the identification.....  |
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Post by BuckSkin on Nov 12, 2021 7:39:04 GMT
Nice of you to look, BuckSkin. Here's a larger picture with leaves that could possibly help in the identification..... Your nuts are definitely some flavor of Hickory; I will stick with my first guess and say that they are what we always called River Hickory; they tend to have a thicker outer hull than most other species. The majority of leaves in your photo look like Pin Oak to me. Today's photos to follow. |
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Post by BuckSkin on Nov 12, 2021 7:44:28 GMT
Hickory Nuts from The Big Hickory that resides in the graveyard. I had no more than got down on my knees to take the first picture when at least fifty of these fell all around me; it is a wonder I wasn't knocked out. The entire nut as it falls from the tree is about the size of the rubber ball that comes with a set of Jacks. Once the four outer hull sections are peeled away, the extremely hard-shelled nut inside is about the size of a marble. I had to set the nuts on the anvil, hold them still with long-nose pliers, and whack them pretty hard with a hammer to get inside. Once in there, it wasn't worth the effort; about one in five actually had some meat inside and precious little meat at that. Several had big insect holes through them; whatever kind of bug it was, he must have had a pretty sharp bit in his drill to get through that hard shell. I worked off two double-cheeseburgers getting about a tablespoon of kernels. Imagine what a squirrel who can crack one of these with his teeth could do to a person's finger; you wouldn't have a finger left. Thursday_11-November-2021       |
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Post by BuckSkin on Nov 12, 2021 8:00:13 GMT
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Post by BuckSkin on Nov 12, 2021 8:09:33 GMT
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Post by BuckSkin on Nov 12, 2021 8:24:31 GMT
    Inexpensive Polaroid +4 Diopter on Canon 18-55mm II "Kit Lens" Canon T3/1100D Camera and Neewer MK-14 EXT TTL Macro Ring Flash I hope you like them. |
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Post by hmca on Nov 12, 2021 16:58:26 GMT
Looks like you have definitely identified that nut in all of it's forms, Buckskin. Can't imagine anyone accusing you of not paying attention to detail! Thank you. You certainly went above and beyond what I ever would have expected.
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 12, 2021 17:22:41 GMT
Wow - that seems like a lot of work for any squirrel.
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Post by BuckSkin on Nov 12, 2021 19:11:44 GMT
Wow - that seems like a lot of work for any squirrel. It's no small wonder that the more intelligent ones turn to robbing bird feeders. I don't know how they know - the people making the claim, not the squirrels - but some people claim that a squirrel can tell whether a nut is worth cracking or not. I say that is just grant-money naturalist not wanting a real job hogwash; I examined them very closely before smashing them with the hammer; and, other than the ones with an obvious worm hole, I did not have a clue what was inside until I got in there. |
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