Nature Moncton Nature News: April 11 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April 11, 2019 (Thursday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: bjpstone@gmail.com

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

** Jamie Burris leaves some comments about activity he has observed over the past week. Jamie and his resident COOPER'S HAWK [Épervier de Cooper] surprised one another when they met eye to eye, eight feet apart in his yard, to have it depart in a whoosh. Jamie strongly suspects that the MOURNING DOVE [Tourterelle triste] perched in his yard later, with a brush cut, may have dodged a bullet.

On April 7^th Karen and Jamie watched three TURKEY VULTURES [Urubu à tête rouge] circling Gray Brook Marsh at low altitude, obviously with something on their mind. Jamie comments that with so many Turkey Vultures being observed along Route 114 in recent years that nesting in that area must be a possibility. Something that a lot of others wonder as well.

On April the 8^th, when in Salisbury, they came across three adult male COMMON MERGANSERS [Grand Harle] in dispute over the attention of one female in the area. On April the 9^th as they walked the Turtle Creek Marsh area a calling KILLDEER [Pluvier kildir] was heard and they got a distant photo as it flew off.

** It is always nice to get an update from Doreen Rossiter in Alma. Some arrivals are later than usual for her yard. The first FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve] arrived on Monday, April 08, which is a week later than normal for her yard. There were three doing their scratching workout routine on Wednesday. Also her first brightly plumaged WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche] came by on Monday. Doreen is awash with DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] and SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur] at the moment with 50+ of each, however she has no finches.

A few CHIPMUNKS appeared on Monday with a lot of chasing going on. It does seem coincidental that several yards reported first Chipmunk appearances on Monday, April 08. Doreen put out some frozen cranberries for the AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] which they found and enjoyed very quickly with still a heavy snow pack in the Alma area and bare areas at a premium. Doreen is waiting for her first Northern Flicker which again is a week late. She comments that there are only a few MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle triste] coming, which she suspects don’t care to be around ROCK PIGEONS [Pigeon biset] as the out-of-the-village feeders, where there are no Pigeons, seem to have the Mourning Doves.

** Gordon Rattray comments on changes that he is noting at the moment in his Weldon feeder yard. In the last few days he has had 15-20 COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] but on Wednesday only one showed up. However AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] numbers are up and the males are getting their patchy, bright yellow molting changeover. The DARK-EYED JUNCO [Junco ardoisé] number has jumped dramatically to 20 on Wednesday. The female RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux] continues to be on and off. She stopped in on April the 3^rd for a quick sampling of suet, but when back on Wednesday she seemed to be more interested in feeding in the trees. This Red-bellied Woodpecker, assumed to be the same one, has been circulating in the Lower Coverdale and Weldon area all winter.

** Brian Stone comments that some digging with heavy equipment is going on in a neighborhood lot and the newly arrived SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur] and AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] are totally delighted to have underground food tidbits suddenly exposed free of charge and are using the site to full advantage.

** Several folks have reported on the popularity of the so called “Bird Pie” that comes in the orange mesh net bags. I have been trying them for the past month and they seem to be a very noticeable favourite with the suet connoisseurs, seeming to prefer them over suet, peanut butter and peanuts. On Wednesday a NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] did a real number on one. The ingredients appear to be nutritious. All the ones that I have seen are made in Black Rock, Nova Scotia.

I keep a Trail Camera on my feeder area at night to watch for unwelcome visitors. Two of those showed up on Wednesday night and live traps were set and both turned their snouts up at Dollar Store cat food. Some much more delectable fare will be offered tonight. They of course will be moved to some great out of the area feeder yards I have been hearing about!!!

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton