Nature Moncton Nature News: Feb 4 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 4 February 2019 (Monday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier <mailto:nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>
Transcript by: David Christie <mailto:maryspt@mac.ccom>
Info Line #: 506-384-6397 <tel:506-384-6397> (384-NEWS)

** It seems to have been a notable year for NORTHERN SHRIKE [Pie-grièche grise] visits to feeder yards. Rick Elliot and Barb Curlew had one try to flush some sparrows out of a honeysuckle bush very near their house. They ended up with a face-to-face photo of the shrike. The chest barring suggests a young bird, which most of the photos submitted have been. Rick’s photo must be what the sparrows’ eyes saw as they successfully eluded capture.

** Gordon Rattray captured a photo of a STAR-NOSED MOLE [Condylure à nez étoilé] in his yard on Sunday. This is a common mammal, yet unusual to see at any time of year, let alone mid-winter. There is a cistern under an out-building near Gordon’s home with running water in an area around it that is warm, which explains why the animal may be living there. Gordon saw it tunnel through the snow into the hole in the photo. Gordon also sends some nice photos of a WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] and a probable young-of-the-year with it. They are in nice condition but are getting some supplemental feeding. They are part of a group of nine in the Hillsborough area.

** Brian Bauld reports that an even 40 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] arrived in his Amherst yard for their regular visit to feed on winter-clinging Hawthorn berries. Brian got some through-the-window photos of their busy day. Hawthorn berries often seem to be a fruit of last resort but this flock doesn’t seem to think that.

** Some Pennsylvania bird-watchers have spotted a stunning NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] that is half male and half female, that is known as a bilateral gynandromorph, with male and female traits. This happens when a female egg with two nuclei is double fertilized by two sperm. Take a look at the bird at the attached site.

pic.twitter.com/TphfJKGYsy

** I have three different birds of prey making regular house calls. One is a NORTHERN SHRIKE [Pie-grièche grise], and the other two being a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] and what I strongly suspect to be a COOPER’S HAWK [Épervier de Cooper]. The behaviour of the two hawks is very different. I recall in a presentation given by Todd Watts that he described the sharp turns and twists of a Sharp-shinned Hawk compared to the more stealthy steady gait of the Cooper’s. The suspect Cooper’s will not co-operate for a photo but its size and behaviour are strongly suggestive.

** A head’s up on the next Nature Moncton field trip on Saturday, Feb. 16, when Alain Clavette will lead a workshop and field outing on gulls. It is suggested to register with Louise Nichols <nicholsl@eastlink.ca>. The write-up is posted under "Upcoming Events" at <http://www.naturemoncton.com/>, along with other events that are firmed up, to check out.

GULL IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOP
Saturday February 16th, 2019
10:00 am (bring a lunch). We should be done around 3:00 pm
Southeast ECO 360 Landfill site -- community room

100 Bill Slater Dr., Berry Mills Road
Presenter and Guide – Alain Clavette
Cost -- $8.00

(Please reserve a spot with Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca)

For many birdwatchers, both beginners and more seasoned birders, the group that is the most challenging to identify in the field is often the LARIDS ...the GULLS! In fact, they can be so challenging, they are often totally overlooked.

‘’That's really a shame because the possibilities of finding wonderful vagrants in the Maritimes are always there with these great hardy travelers’’ Alain Clavette, a convinced LARIDOPHILE, will tell you: ‘’Remember the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull? “

Gulls are strong, powerful, hardy birds that can travel long distances without touching land. They can rest on the water and they can survive very intense storms. And who is more resourceful than a gull when it comes to finding food it can survive on pretty much anywhere?

On February the 16th, COME GULLING!! And learn the basics of NB’s gull identification. Join birder and U. de Moncton ornithology teacher Alain Clavette at the Moncton landfill where there are a lot of gulls to learn from. We will start the day at 10:00 am in the community room where Alain will show you a few tips on gulls via a PowerPoint presentation. After lunch, we will go outside amongst hundreds of birds to watch and learn.

*Bring appropriate clothing as it is usually QUITE A BIT COLDER over there on the hill in the wind.

<nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton