Nature Moncton Nature News: Jan 23 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, January 23, 2018 ( Tuesday )

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** The star of Monday was no doubt the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant à couronne dorée] that Sybil Wentzell found visiting her Mary's Point Rd. feeder yard on Sunday afternoon. Sybil shares a photo of it she took on Monday beautifully showing the yellow crown. Sybil comments that it often puffs up like this when it rests. Many folks enjoyed seeing this bird on Monday and Sybil points out that everyone who visited was respectful of the bird and thoroughly enjoyed its presence.

Sybil also shares a link to Audubon's Guide to Ethical Bird Photography at the attached link and feels that if it was followed that the bond between birders and wildlife photographers would be strengthened. It is very worth printing off and reflecting upon for all of us.

http://www.audubon.org/get-outside/audubons-guide-ethical-bird-photography

Several other photos of the guest of the day are attached. Brian Stone got a side view while most of us were concentrating on its signature yellow tam. The large size of this sparrow, almost the size of a Harris's Sparrow, was very noticeable as it mingled with DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien]. This is only the fourth or fifth known visit to New Brunswick of this species from its Western North America native area.

** With a lot of folks on Mary's Point Rd. on Monday it was a must to stop in at John Inman's always welcoming feeder yard with its interesting patrons that include at the moment a female RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux], three RUSTY BLACKBIRDS [Quiscale rouilleux], many AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien], DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] and other expected regulars. Something I had not noticed previously is the distinct tail markings of the Red-bellied Woodpecker shown in photos. The variability in the more colorful winter plumage of the Rusty Blackbird shows in the photos as to gender and probably maturity as well.

** Brian Stone was taking a photo of a BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] on the ship mast at Shepody Dam when suddenly an obviously much larger female arrived and unceremoniously pushed the male off the mast to take its place as several ROCK PIGEONS [Pigeon biset] snoozed on the wires below. How potential victims know when a raptor is not in hunting mode always leaves one wondering what cues they use.

** John Inman is also getting raptor interest with that number of patrons in his yard. He donated some very interesting photos to be scanned and they will be aired within a few days.

** A heads up for the next Nature Moncton event of the Winter Trails, Tracks, Scat and Wildlife Signs workshop, and hopefully short field trip to follow, coming up on Saturday, February 03. A poster is attached below.