NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Jan. 22, 2017 (Monday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
** Leigh Eaton got some nice photos of a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier
brun] that visited his Moncton feeder yard to take a starling as prey.
Note that it is a juvenile bird due to the vertical chest striping and the
distinct yellow eye. Leigh comments that his feeders are very lively with
expected species; he also has a very well-used bird waterer. Leigh says that
their two Maine Coon cats enjoy the birds immensely from inside the house, where
all domestic cats should be kept. Cats allowed to run free are Canada’s and
U.S.A.’s number one killer of songbirds.
** Rhéal Vienneau came across a WESTERN CONIFER SEED-BUG [Punaise
occidentale des cônes], which he brought into his home accidentally on a piece
of 2x4 lumber from an unheated garage. It was obviously in the garage over the
very cold period we had recently. He had it in a vial in the fridge for over a
week, and it came back to life. This bug is native west of the Rocky Mountains
but in recent years has expanded its range to eastern North America. It tends to
come into buildings to overwinter. It sucks the sap of developing conifer cones
especially, but not exclusively, pine. It is recognized by the expanded tibiae
of the hind legs and the alternating light and dark bands that run along the
outer wing edges. I don’t believe it’s considered a serious pest but we are now
seeing more of it.
** Gordon Rattray adds some photos that he got on the Saturday Nature
Moncton trip, including a very sharply dressed male NORTHERN PINTAIL [Canard
pilet], a MUSKRAT [Rat musqué] nicely showing its rudder tail, a flight shot of
a MALLARD [Canard colvert] showing the undercarriage nicely, another photo of
the orange-variant HOUSE FINCH [Roselin familier], and a flight photo of the
GLAUCOUS GULL [Goéland bourgmestre].
Vicki Daley, who lives near the Tantramar Marsh has shown some concern
about some of the activity she noted in the areas where the SNOWY OWL [Harfang
des neiges] was being observed on Saturday. She was disappointed to see some
photographers getting close to the owl and making it fly repeatedly. This
message may not reach the correct folks but it is always a duty of naturalists
and birders, when we see this happening, to politely remind folks about the
welfare of the bird or other wildlife involved. It’s wonderful to see all our
beautiful wildlife, but with today’s incredible zoom cameras and scopes it
should not be necessary to get too close disturb them. The best compliment we
can get from wildlife is when they ignore our presence.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
GLAUCOUS GULL.JANUARY 20, 2018. GORDON RATTRAY
HOUSE FINCH (ORANGE VARIANT).JANUARY 20, 2018. GORDON RATTRAY
MALLARD DUCK ( FEMALE).JANUARY 20, 2018. GORDON RATTRAY
MUSKRAT.JANUARY 20, 2018. GORDON RATTRAY
NORTHERN PINTAIL. JANUARY 20, 2018. GORDON RATTRAY
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. JAN 20, 2018. LEIGH EATON
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. JAN 20, 2018. LEIGH EATON
WESTERN CONIFER SEED BUG. JAN 22, 2018.RHEAL VIENNEAU
