#11 - Critical Mast: The Hidden Cycle of Oak Abundance

from Jumpstart Nature · host Jumpstart Nature

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:Future EcologiesGolden State NaturalistLearning from Nature: The Biomimicry PodcastNature's ArchiveOutside/InWe’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. FULL SHOW NOTESLinks to Topics Discussed and Supporting Resources Calscape - find hyper-local native plants in California NWF Native Plant FinderHomegrown National Park and their MapThe Nature of OaksSend a textSupport the show

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This episode was published on October 23, 2025.

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