Have you ever noticed that oak trees sometimes have bumper crops of acorns, and sometimes hardly produce a thing? What causes this? And why?

Join host Griff Griffith and producer Michael Hawk on an exploration of acorn masting (bumper crops), with a special deep dive into one species that profoundly benefits - the charismatic Acorn Woodpecker.

Along with our special guests, Dr. Walter Koenig (both a masting and Acorn Woodpecker researcher), and Dr. Doug Tallamy (author of The Nature of Oaks), we guide you through the interesting tale of acorn masting, and oaks in general.

This episode is part of a playful exercise in community podcasting, with 6 different shows each producing their own stories about or inspired by the mystery of masting, and releasing them at (approximately) the same time.

For other masting stories, check out:

We’ll populate this Spotify playlist with all our stories as they come out!

Beyond a podcast, Jumpstart Nature is a movement fueled by volunteers, igniting a fresh approach to reconnecting people with the natural world. In the face of our pressing climate and biodiversity challenges, we're on a mission to help you discover newfound purpose and motivation.

Join us in this vital journey towards nature's revival. Explore more and show your support at jumpstartnature.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky and YouTube.

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Links to Topics Discussed and Supporting Resources

Calscape - find hyper-local native plants in California

NWF Native Plant Finder

Homegrown National Park and their Map

The Nature of Oaks

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