So what impact did the storm have on the area's wildlife?

Well, for one it gave our wildlife three days off of school. (Hey, I have kids in the school system. I can make jokes like that.)

Wildlife, real wildlife that is, likely fared pretty well, despite the destruction so obvious in our woods and neighborhoods.

There is not much going on in terms of bird migration these days, so it's not likely that many birds got blown off course by the Nor'easter. Red-winged blackbirds and grackles have arrived already and the early warblers and other early migrants such as osprey, for the most part, haven't arrived yet.

Jim Hunter, a naturalist at Earthplace, said a deep freeze type of storm would have been worse for the blackbirds because they may not have survived the temperatures.

This type of storm, with high winds and soft earth, mostly toppled trees. The majority of the trees that fell were white pines. Not only is a pine's root structure shallow, but the needles (they are called evergreens for a reason) add weight and give the wind extra surface to grab.

One potential negative impact of white pines toppling over is that great-horned owls may have lost their nests. That is a problem for great-horned owls because, unlike other birds, these owls have already had their babies. The baby owls, however, are likely not old enough to fly yet. Should their tree have toppled, that not be good news.

Many crows, Hunter said, prefer white pines for roosting because of the warmth provided by the needles. I also know that many of the squirrels in my neighborhood have nests in white pines. They might be looking for new homes, as well.

Another long-term consequence, Hunter said, is the loss of deadwood. Dead and dying trees provide both food and home for cavity nesting birds, such as woodpeckers. Some of these cavity nesters are already challenged because of increased competition, so the loss of these trees make their plight that much more difficult.

Wildlife has survived these storms for millions of years. The birds and animals will be just fine. Besides, as Hunter said: "It's all part of living in southern New England."

 

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