New England's Native Oak Trees

A documentary film describing twelve oak species of the northeastern U.S., which comprise the native oak species of New England. Beyond species identification, natural and cultural history is related, including charcoal kilns of yesteryear.
Timelapse footage shows seldom-witnessed events in the life of an oak tree, including acorns sprouting/rooting, gypsy moths laying eggs, and acorn weevil larvae in (and exiting) acorns.
Galls and the insects that form them are shown.
UMass-Amherst biologist Jeff Boettner describes the surprising relationship among oaks, mice, and gypsy (aka "spongy") moths.
Read more at newenglandforests.blogspot.co...
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A note to users of closed-captions: the captions (subtitles) can be moved to different locations on the screen if they are blocking your view. To move a closed caption, place your cursor on it and drag it. Also, when captions are turned on, there are a number of caption features you can change by clicking on the settings "gear wheel" and selecting "Subtitles/CC", and then "Options".

[@TheFriskySquid]

Incredible documentary of our native species. Thanks for uploading these for our free viewing.

[@NewEnglandForests]

Hopefully no ads were shown during the film, other than possibly at the very beginning.

[@pendlechild7516]

@@NewEnglandForests- unfortunately KZbin ads popped in at the point you were explaining the White Oak leaves - early into the presentation.

[@NewEnglandForests]

We opted for "no ads" on this channel (and we do not get any income whatsoever from these films), but KZbin chooses to show ads at any time they wish. Of course, they have the right to do that, and must get paid for their services. But I do find the ads very annoying too.

[@sherriianiro747]

I have four pin oak trees 80' tall (planted in 1968) and one morning a scarlet tanager (whom are hard to find because they like the canopy) was singing his little heart out by my bedroom window in one of them. Between that and watching the bluejays forage those acorns to plant elsewhere and the fact that they host more insects and are beneficial to wildlife than any other tree has really given me an appreciation of them.

[@mattiasdahlstrom2024]

Had to reread the sentence after you talked about a teenager ? !

[@paulbriggs3072]

If they are ever yellowish in foliage it's because they need potash in their soil, which they can be sensitive to.

[@StoptheLie]

I once saw a saying I always remember "The greatest oak was once a little nut that held its ground." Great work!

[@roachant]

An absolute perfect documentary on oaks, thank you!

[@greenspiritarts]

Phenomenal documentary film. I thought I knew a fair bit about our native forest ecosystems here in New England, but this film delivers a wealth of detailed knowledge unlike any PBS or National Geo production. Superior in every way!!! THANK YOU for making and so generously sharing this film. It deserves an Oscar!

[@NewEnglandForests]

That’s some pretty high praise, probably just a bit more than deserved. Just a bit. But thank you!

[@swampyankee72]

In my hometown East Haddam Connecticut I once found a monster "lone wolf" eastern white oak. I found it while hunting partridge as a young lad on top of a ridgeline. There was an ancient stone wall that stretched the entire length of the ridge beneath it. My grandfather told me it once served as a property line. That was 50 years ago, I'd love to go back today to see if it still stands.

[@NewEnglandForests]

Swamp.. I think you should do that... it might turn out to be a great trip that will trigger a lot of happy memories. I hope the tree is till there.

[@swampyankee72]

@@NewEnglandForests Fantastic video, I'm more curious now than ever. It being perched on top of a ridgeline it doesn't have to compete for room as it would if it was on flatland. I'm in Northern Maine now, if I go back for a funeral I think I need to go for a walk.

[@5x535]

DO it, Swamp! You are certain to not regret it.

[@SamuelBolduc]

Amazing documentary once again. This has got to be one of the best ones yet. This is even better than professional documentaries we could get on the big tv channels or streaming platforms. Is there any way we can contribute / donate to support the production of these amazing videos? I would love to help if I can - watching all of these for free has been a blessing.

[@NewEnglandForests]

Thanks very much Sam, I appreciate your offer to contribute. It's not money that's the limiting factor, it's time. These projects typically have taken two to three years to gather footage and then edit it into a finished film. It has been time very well spent though. -Ray

[@adnanbinabdullah9615]

Keep it up Ray! Hello from Malaysia!

[@ericwanderweg8525]

Well done. This documentary was a work of art. You covered all the native species, naturally occurring hybrids, touched on the loss of the American Chestnut, talked about the symbiotic relationship between various insects, animals, and the oak trees…. Keep up the good work 👍

[@skyedonaldson4813]

The diversity of Eastern forests is incredible! So many different oaks in a relatively small area. I live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and we only have a handful of oak species here.

[@elizabethjohnson475]

I live in Redding, and the native oaks are the only tree with color for autumn. I'd call it golden, not yellow. From my kitchen window, atop our mountain, I get to look down on the oaks amid our pines here in far north California, and watch the oaks turn golden in November. I love it.

[@markcummings6856]

I can not be more thankful for this incredible resource. Masterfully produced and presented.

[@NewEnglandForests]

Thank you Mark!

[@paulyounger1190]

Amazing film, thanks to all involved. I especially enjoyed the detailed photos of the key ID features across various ages of trees, great resource for anyone in New England or the Northeastern US.

[@jamesangle7]

best videos on KZbin, great way to start the new year, thank you

[@anarchobeaker9243]

Tremendous video as always. The gold standard for education on New England forests. Thank you greatly for your work.

[@greenmtnman7714]

We have Northern Red, Eastern White, & Chestnut Oak on our 220 acres here in Vermont.

[@lotsoffish]

Thank you New England Forests for another outstanding documentary on our native forests. I look forward to each and every one of your videos. Thanks for producing something well worth watching.

[@NewEnglandForests]

That's truly appreciated, thank you! -Ray

[@confusedowl297]

These videos are really relaxing to watch, and it’s also interesting to see the plants and animals that live in New England, since I’ve never been to that part of the country

[@bendrixbailey1430]

Thanks for releasing another great informational video. I love the work you do. There is a greta book, called…. Oak, for those who want to understand the history of humanity’s dependence on and use of oak. As a hunter I spend many hours each year perched in trees. Oak is one of my favorites. By the way, its not only loggers that remove oak forests. I owned a 90 acre parcel with the most beautiful and prolific oak forest on it. Many trees more than 18” in diameter. One year we had 3 gypsy moth infestations in one summer. That was more defoliation than the oaks could handle and every single tree perished. What we could not harvest for firewood was left to rot among the many white pines that sprouted up in the newly sunlit forest. It will take more than 100 years for that forest to return to a dominant oak forest.

[@oscarflip8561]

Quercus macrocarpa amazes me that it grows all the way from Maine to Wyoming, in places that get 60” to 18” of rain yearly, and the fact it doesn’t grow in riparian areas like most very widespread trees in the U.S like populus deltoides and Acer negundo. An amazingly adaptable tree. Really great documentary, showing the minute differences between species and the role oaks play in the ecosystem. 👍🏻

[@dingdongism]

I became obsessed with _Q. macrocarpa_ when living in Illinois. There, it was a key species in the oak savanna ecosystems that are sadly dwindling. I later learned about the Red-headed Woodpecker, a specialist of midwestern oak savannas, and how it too was seeing a decline in population. As has been said before, it's all intertwined.

[@notthatguy4703]

Oaks are my favorite. This level of detail and quality is incredible for such a specific niche in biology

[@TheBonsaiZone]

A fantastic look at Oak trees and the life they support!

[@kevinrandell5189]

🌴🌵🌳🌲Foist! 🌲🌳🌵🌴

[@natewhelden4463]

Really great film and extremely informative even for those of us that love oaks but are not in New England. Thanks for yet another outstanding video.

[@Catsley]

Such a treat to get a new video from you after a night of partying. I did a little dance of joy

[@thelaughingtiger146]

Thank you, always a pleasure. 😃🌹

[@pamleforge1461]

What a informative video, so well done, I learned so much about oak trees, acorns, gypsy moths, Leaves, mice(admit I still don’t care for them) Great job and congratulations to Geoff on his part!

[@crowvii]

Absolutely loving these individual tree documentaries - truly so well done 👍

[@jonathankranz2799]

Outstanding! Perhaps the best yet -- and that's saying something.

[@NewEnglandForests]

Well Jonathan, I think you might owe me a new hat, mine won’t fit my head anymore now!

[@PlantMoreTrees9]

Amazing information and video of oaks. Thank you for making this and sharing! Please continue to plant oaks, they are the most important tree in the eastern US and likely in all of North America. Thanks again!

[@terrymorton7444]

Another great video the work you put in truly shows . Every time that I have watched a New England forest video I've always learned something new and interesting. I also noticed that all the trees you described have a population in Connecticut. This makes it a challenge to identify these trees with so much hibernation going on but I'm glad that you pointed out it's difficult because it is frustrating. I was hiking part of the Tunxis trail system yesterday and I came along a group of lone wolf trees they were amazing .I could hardly believe that this was a pasture at one time considering how rocky the side of the slope was but there were rock walls all around. One last thing I'm not against cutting trees down but with so much of Connecticuts forest getting so old I noticed there's a change in forest manager's attitudes .They see dollar signs all around our state looking at our beautiful oaks🍂🌳

[@essay8634]

You point out something I've been making sure not to forget: many of the regrowing forests which give me hope for the return of wildness, may ultimately turn out to have been, essentially, wood farms. We need to ensure that we're protecting their future wildness in law.

[@Canopus68]

Great Video. We had four white oaks in the woods on our property. We had one of the oaks measured and it was with in ten points of a record white oak for NH. Sadly about 15yrs after I left home I went to check it and found it had blown over. I don't have access to the property so I'm not sure if the other oaks are still alive. It did leave an legacy. It knocked down a tree next to it. I was snow shoeing and walked around the root ball. There was a hole under tree and laying just outside the den were five coyote pups. I didn't even wake them up. I'm sure mom wasn't happy because when I went back up there with a camera they were gone. Thank you.

[@NewEnglandForests]

That’s one of those great unexpected moments you have every now and then in the woods. You can’t buy experiences like that. Very lucky.

[@PeddleTon]

One of my favorite channels! Thanks for sharing & happy new year!

[@caseyrobarts2701]

thank you for the video! I loved the clips of the mice and their story of interaction with the oaks

[@patrickdavis99]

Wonderful video, love the diverse selection of information provided! Thank you so much for providing scientific names now! So awesome keep up the good work!

[@notthatguy4703]

I'm 17. I love this channel, and I have fallen in love with the forests around me. I can now name every tree and many flowers and ferns here in Central NY... I'm applying to colleges and this is what I want to study. I want a career working with plants or animals, especially ones that have me outside most of the day. Any advice or recommendations? IE interesting/fitting majors and career courses?

[@NewEnglandForests]

Hi Chief. I passed your question on to a PhD biologist friend who is recently retired from a teaching position at UMass Amherst. Here is his response: “ I’d suggest that he should try to narrow down his search. He might look at colleges with a strong ecology department where he could study the interactions of organisms. Or if he is more interested in how plants function ( plant physiology, anatomy, and systematics ) he should look for schools with a strong botany program. NY has many state colleges that might be helpful. Cornell has a good ecology department. Yale has a great forestry program. If he’s Interested in forestry ( forest management) he might look at Paul Smith’s college. If he is unsure what direction he wants to take he should pursue an undergraduate program with a diversity of courses then he can focus on a particular field later.”

[@scott4259]

Good luck young man hope you find what you are looking for!

[@terrymorton7444]

Good luck to you young man the forest is filled with many mysteries that still need to be solved

[@ahuels67]

You caught my attention with the White Pine episode, and now you got me hooked with the Oaks of New England. Thank you

[@MADDCHOPER68]

Me too very good videos ❤

[@roannasold]

Always a pleasure when you upload new content. Very grateful that you take the time to create and upload all these things.

[@joshuasmith1215]

Absolutely amazing video!

[@toma5153]

A very enjoyable and informative video. Glad it showed up in my suggested list.

[@kdcraft89]

Wow! Great video with so many details.

[@febyalias5920]

Man what an amazing chanel! Thank you.

[@eddy8828]

Thank you so much for this amazing documentary.

[@FlyingYankee]

Thank you for another wonderful & educational episode ! The photography, narration theme music is superb.

[@stumpfarm3714]

Excellent, thanks for posting.

[@bparazin2392]

This was such a lovely video! Oak trees are some of my favorites here in New England and watching a video all about them is the perfect way to ring in the new year! Thank you for all the work you put together on this!

[@rogerhodges7656]

Great video. I didn't know about the galls.

[@davids7799]

Literally brilliant photography. Thank you

[@sleepygrumpy]

We need more videos! This was an excellent production as always ofc

[@NewEnglandForests]

Working on it!

[@skeletalbassman1028]

Great presentation. Luckily, lots of people are still planting open-grown oaks in their backyards, homesteads, or other large properties. The idea of a "legacy tree" still has a strong pull to a committed minority, so hopefully future generations will get both the benefits of old-growth forests AND the beautiful stout oaks of pastures.

[@jdhinckley1954]

Wonderful. I learn something new with each one of these videos. Thanks so much for making and sharing! And too, the sounds of the forest that you have shared with us are poignant reminders of my youth and the woods of New England where I spent many happy days (& some nights)

[@spunkytryer6658]

Another fabulous film from Ray Asselin. Thank you so much!

[@NewEnglandForests]

That's greatly appreciated, thank you!

[@animalparty8206]

👍👍👍👍Thank you so much for this amazing video! I am so inspired by your work!! I think I need to watch this a few times, there is just so much great information!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@riterra]

Beautiful work. I learned a ton.

[@reginapaluchniak986]

What a wonderful informative documentary !!

[@joes8275]

Very interesting & informative film. Wow. Just a great job.Thanks for making this available.

[@GrungyNA]

Yet another great video, thank you.

[@bonnieuptree5691]

ThankYou So Much for This !

[@t3dwards13]

Very cool and informative!!! Thank you!

[@troyclayton]

Thank you so much. There's not a thing I'd rather do on New Years Day than spend an hour learning more about our oaks. The 'gypsy moth' stuff was interesting, I was in grade school in Mass during the 80's infestation. I'll never forget. I'm simply going to say "sponge moth", I just like it better (and they're NOT spongy).

[@voterthatreads158]

Another outstanding program.

[@Triplaglol]

Amazing film, more like this please!

[@bluwtrgypsy]

Excellent. So interesting and informative with wonderful detail. Thank you.

[@headspacehiker]

Came here from the algorithm, thanks for the well done doc!

[@rickpollard1285]

This information is absolutely fascinating I love it

[@matthewschultz7945]

Another great video. Thank you!

[@journey820]

I loved this documentary. Very well done! I am learning to differentiate oak species on my farm, and this was so helpful. The features of different leaves, acorns, bark and twigs were very well described and shown, along with the range maps per species. I'd love to see this altogether in the form of a field guide. I haven't found one quite like it yet. I also feel very relaxed and peaceful after watching this and hearing the birdsongs and the wind blowing through the leaves. :)

[@user-yj9jl2ss6u]

Interestingly, I live on the North shore of Lake Ontario and there is, what is described as 'A rare Burr Oak Savannah'. Far from the boundaries shown here for the Burr Oak. It is on a small peninsula of exposed Canadian Shield and it is a small family of ancient looking sentinels that stand in contrast to the surrounding Junipers. Great, informative video and the live footage with nature's sound track, makes it. Worth a 'Like' for sure. Thanks and take care, from Ontario, Canada...

[@jamobee6178]

Thank you for this fantastic documentary. I really enoyed everything about it. Especially the photo at 34:14 . :)

[@paulj.flatley4847]

Thank you for a wonderful educational video. I have enjoyed all of the videos you have produced. This one was equally amazing as the others.

[@NewEnglandForests]

Thank you Paul... I learned a lot in the process too.

[@peehandshihtzu]

Fascinating, thank you! :)

[@robdabiere651]

Another great video Thank you. Interesting facts about the mice and how they keep the insect population in check. Great attention to detail on the leaves and nuts. Keep up the good work.

[@elisetorello]

I love this! Thank you!!!

[@sfn4702]

So great. Thank you

[@YouYou-nq8ec]

This is beautiful!

[@lindalinda-ie3hw]

thanks lovely film

[@robertgraves3215]

Absolutely fantastic video. WOW!

[@NewEnglandForests]

Thank you very much!

[@user-mi3pv7ql4g]

Great info Thanks!

[@peterguercio9504]

Outstanding!

[@scottjohnson6173]

I love tree, real trees I grew up in New England and we had a lot of majestic oaks thank you for the Documentary on the Majestic Oaks.

[@praaht18]

Magnificent, Thanks.

[@Jona_Villa]

Top video 😍

[@peterlubbers5947]

What an absolute treasure trove of Tree documentaries you've created sir, i have to say the sheer quality shows dedication and a love for the subject matter that cannot be denied! I do hope a documentary about the Chestnut is in the workings..Maybe?👌🙏

[@NewEnglandForests]

Hi Peter... I've thought about doing something on the chestnut; the problem is, there aren't any around my New England region (of any size) to show. And archival images are not easy to find either. I could do a story about the restoration efforts, but it would be lacking images of mature trees, which would leave the story wanting. I'll keep it in mind though.

[@robbylava]

Love listening to these while I work.

[@NewEnglandForests]

Thanks Robby... but don’t let the boss find out.

[@robbylava]

@@NewEnglandForests heheheh, I work from home so hopefully they aren't monitoring my computer!

[@SmallGameHunter]

Better than National Geographic. I've gained more respect for the white footed mice and the oaks thanks to you. Looking forward to the next episode! School would be fun if it was taught this way. Thanks again.

[@TWOCOWS1]

wonderful video. thank you for making and posting.

[@NewEnglandForests]

Hello Clarence, and thank you. In your original post, you mentioned oak shipmasts, but I think you might mean pine trees for shipmasts, not oaks. Oak was used in the hulls of ships. England had been buying Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), aka "Riga Fir", from the Baltics for masts, but was forced during war time to get their masts from America's virgin forests. The white pine played a significant role in the establishment of the American colonies, and ultimately in the founding of America. You might like to watch our film "Eastern White Pine: the Tree Rooted in American History" on this channel, at kzbin.info/www/bejne/mILWaKGlq9GpqqM, which tells that story.

[@TWOCOWS1]

@@NewEnglandForests thank you very much for the input. i appreciate it. are any of those pines still arouind?

[@NewEnglandForests]

I'm not aware of any of the "King's pines" still existing (at least, not standing). But there are probably a few old-timers here and there that escaped the ax. Just a few years ago, we lost a White Pine that was well over 300 years old, so who knows?

[@TWOCOWS1]

@@NewEnglandForests thnks. but what is s King's pine, if not the white pine? do you know??

[@NewEnglandForests]

“King’s pines” were American eastern white pines that England’s king declared to be reserved exclusively for his use, during the American colonial period. He had agents ax-mark them with his “broad arrow” symbol. You can see all this in the film mentioned above.

[@GrizzlyGroundswell]

excellent video! I think I have a better grasp on oak now! Thanks to you!

[@fletchdad8755]

Great video !

[@bricebeaulac]

Excellent

[@juliehenderson1672]

Thank you! 🌲

[@NewEnglandForests]

You are so welcome!

[@trainrover]

wow 🍸 fantastic filming (and editing too, I suppose) like this, setting the most worthy of tributes to nature's awesome beauty 🍷

[@JakeDanczyk]

Really enjoying this so far, just wanted to say thank you. I'm moved by the beauty and strength of these trees. Grateful to have them with us on the Earth. My childhood bed was of Texas live oak, made by my dad.

[@NewEnglandForests]

Thanks Jake!

[@theMusiCandMedicinE]

What a wonderful channel 💚

[@MADDCHOPER68]

I'm from the mountains of new Hampshire I've been in the woods as long as i can remember how do I know my parents are usually looking for me as a little kid I make my living from the tree industry ...im still in them mts I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS ❤❤❤ love it .thank you .very mush.

[@IanSizzler]

I adore this content 💚🌳🏡🌲🌳

[@ahuels67]

I see the author has an affinity for the Red Oak where i personally have always been in love with the Bur Oak.

[@MikeD-wj3bu]

amazing!

[@4224Prod.]

oh nice, i have been waiting for this video :D

[@chrisconnor8086]

one time, i was having a horrible experience. I ran to the woods and laid beneath a huge Texas Live Oak. After 2 hours of restlessness, I fell asleep and woke up in a completely different state of mind. I will never forget the silk worm dropping from the canopy that laid all around me. The sun ran through their strings. And i woke up in peace

[@chrisconnor8086]

It was a post oak. Wow. We have them here in texas. But they are at least 50 ft tall

[@AdamB12]

This video makes me want to find a chestnust oak since they appear to be quite rare where I live (Southern Maine). Very comprehensive video.

[@alexm2048]

I don't even live in the New England area and I watch everything from this channel lol

[@NewEnglandForests]

Ahhh, Alex, you are indeed a person of great wisdom and intellectual curiosity! 😁 (Or are you just using it as a sedative??)

[@johntillotson4254]

Thanks

[@riku8342]

Incredible documentary! Quercus rubra is planted quite a lot in my country (The Netherlands), but they seem to have a more smooth bark here weirdly enough.

[@verycool6022]

Jammer genoeg worden Amerikaanse eiken vaak onnodig gekapt omdat ze als invasief worden beschouwd. Recent onderzoek toont echter aan dat de biodiversiteit rondom deze eiken hoger is dan eerder gedacht (meer dan de 12 insectensoorten die door iedereen klakkeloos gekopieerd wordt). Deze informatie is soms moeilijk te vinden, maar is essentieel om te delen. Interessant is dat er in Amerika meer dan 90 eikensoorten voorkomen, tegenover ongeveer 20 in Europa, waarvan de meeste in het Middellandse Zeegebied. In Nederland zien we vooral de zomereik en zeer zelden de wintereik. Veel inheemse soorten zoals populieren, iepen, essen en kastanjes hebben het moeilijk. Natuurorganisaties volgen vaak het idee van inheemse soorten zonder de potentiële voordelen van andere soorten te overwegen. Sommige eikensoorten zouden prima kunnen integreren in Nederlandse bossen als we denken in termijnen van millennia in plaats van eeuwen. Dit is een belangrijk perspectief, vooral gezien de geologische tijdsschaal waarop bossen evolueren.