Matt,

That actually isn't a nest (I don't think), just a bunch of the damn things eating (nests are the white, silky, tent-like structures with the very young catipillars). We have lucked out so far in my immediate area (house, woods, etc.). I did hear of some woodlot owners nearby me spraying them by helicopter (at some astronomical price per load). Last year was aweful - I litterally could walk around the house without stepping on one (each step!!!) - they do make a funny popping sound when stepped on and have funny looking inards. I eneded up spraying around the house with stuff that would kill them when they walked through it (as well as spot spraying, and burning, and.......). They said this year would be even worse because of the mild winter, but must be the late cold snap did some damage. We did spray the tree in my front yard with something once we started to see nests. It seemed to work quite well - the tree actually has all/most of its leaves. I have heard the farther north you go in NY the worse they get. I saw whole mountain sides of bare trees last summer in the Adirondacks. The trees can withstand that kind of pressure for only a couple years before they die.