I've got berries like I've never had before on Sorbus hupehensis. All the S.aucuparia have been eaten, these are untouched. Will the birds be put off by the unripe appearance?
The bit below is from the link and mentions your tree...
It is not just native species that produce fruit taken by birds. Introduced species and the cultivated varieties of native species may also produce suitable fruit. There has been a fair amount of debate over the different cultivars of some berry-producing shrubs (including those in the genus Sorbus) and how attractive they might be to birds. Since birds have been shown to use berry colour as an indicator of nutritive rewards, it seems sensible to assume that the differently-coloured varieties of these shrubs will differ in their attractiveness to birds.
Ornamental fruits whose colours are not widely replicated within native fruits (for example white – seen only on Mistletoe) may prove less attractive to birds. This could explain why white-berried forms of Sorbus remain on the tree for so long.
Thank you Daintiness. Sorry, I missed your reply when you posted it.
I thought that might be it, rather than not ripe yet. The tree has been there for years, another one of my seed growing successes, but it's never berried like this before. I think we're too dry, rowans generally don't thrive, they stay alive, just.
The wet couple of years we had probably accounts for this year's bounty. Sorbus aucuparia did well too.
Birds in our garden are odd (fieldfares and blackbirds) They have completely stripped the Sorbus cashmeriana (white berries) and igmored red, orange and pink berries.
Only red berries taken so far were on the Holly.
Cannot see any Cotoneaster berry reduction either, nor Pyracantha.
The birds have also begun to eat the apples much earlier than usual too.
I wonder here, if it is to do with the position of the tree. The uneaten ones are in the wooded area and so maybe less 'secure'. The eaten on is out in the open so fewer places for the predators to hide.
That's an interesting point Berghill. Our bird of prey count increases yearly and things may change. We've always have kestrels and sparrow hawks but the kite and buzzard numbers are soaring. The little birds do OK with their feeders in the hedge and the hawthorns close to the house but it's a big dangerous world further out.
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Yes, they will be the last to be touched - reds, oranges and yellows go first and fast.
http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/gardens-wildlife/gardening/plants-fruit-seeds
The bit below is from the link and mentions your tree...
It is not just native species that produce fruit taken by birds. Introduced species and the cultivated varieties of native species may also produce suitable fruit. There has been a fair amount of debate over the different cultivars of some berry-producing shrubs (including those in the genus Sorbus) and how attractive they might be to birds. Since birds have been shown to use berry colour as an indicator of nutritive rewards, it seems sensible to assume that the differently-coloured varieties of these shrubs will differ in their attractiveness to birds.
Ornamental fruits whose colours are not widely replicated within native fruits (for example white – seen only on Mistletoe) may prove less attractive to birds. This could explain why white-berried forms of Sorbus remain on the tree for so long.
Thank you Daintiness. Sorry, I missed your reply when you posted it.
I thought that might be it, rather than not ripe yet. The tree has been there for years, another one of my seed growing successes, but it's never berried like this before. I think we're too dry, rowans generally don't thrive, they stay alive, just.
The wet couple of years we had probably accounts for this year's bounty. Sorbus aucuparia did well too.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Birds in our garden are odd (fieldfares and blackbirds) They have completely stripped the Sorbus cashmeriana (white berries) and igmored red, orange and pink berries.
Only red berries taken so far were on the Holly.
Cannot see any Cotoneaster berry reduction either, nor Pyracantha.
The birds have also begun to eat the apples much earlier than usual too.
I don't think C. lacteus is ripe yet here, they're always one of the last, then are stripped in days.
'Cornubia' is always stripped just before Christmas when I have my eye on them for decoration purposes
In the sticks near Peterborough
I wonder here, if it is to do with the position of the tree. The uneaten ones are in the wooded area and so maybe less 'secure'. The eaten on is out in the open so fewer places for the predators to hide.
That's an interesting point Berghill. Our bird of prey count increases yearly and things may change. We've always have kestrels and sparrow hawks but the kite and buzzard numbers are soaring. The little birds do OK with their feeders in the hedge and the hawthorns close to the house but it's a big dangerous world further out.
In the sticks near Peterborough