Nature Moncton Nature News: March 28 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 28 March 2020 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**Judith Dewar was snowshoeing in woods behind her Springhill Road, Fredericton home in late February, and heard what sounded very much like a NORTHERN PARULA WARBLER [Paruline à collier]. She heard it again on March 18th, and this time got an audio recording, with the link attached below. It is probably not audible without listening with earphones connected to your device, but if you can hear it, it sure does sound like a Northern Parula Warbler. It vocalized at least three times on the audio/video. If you can hear it, I would like to hear return comments, as a Northern Parula in late February and March on territory would seem unlikely. Check it out at the attached link.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uDRCTxnCAgfbZSym9

**We had hoped to get a trail camera installed to see what was using the winter nest Anita and David Cannon found in one of their NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL [Petite Nyctale] nest boxes. That has not happened yet, with present circumstances, but brings attention to a subject naturalists should be using more. Trail cameras are very popular with hunters and some limited use with naturalists. Brian Donovan has developed a passionate hobby of photographing wildlife with still and video trail cameras, to have seen 20 unique FISHERS [Pékan], 20+ MARTEN [Martre d'Amérique], 7 unique LYNX [Lynx du Canada], 4-5 RIVER OTTERS [Loutre de rivière], and lots of other wildlife. He shares a number of videos on a YouTube channel. Search for “Miramichi wildlife” when you’re in YouTube, and it should be the first channel. I asked Brian about recommendations and I’m going to quote his suggestions.

Quoting
“Know what you are targeting - Setting a camera in a tree for a Marten will not see the Llynx that walks under it but makes for great Marten Shots.
If you are comfortable using bait (fish etc) to attract animals you will see a lot more - I use suet cages with 1/4 mesh but leave then easy to open. Keeps the jays from emptying them as soon as I leave the site. Once Bears awaken (next 2 weeks?) they will be hungry and will find any bait you have out. Bears are hard on equipment.
Would suggest get the best quality camera you can - 12mp minimum, 20mp preferred, 1080 video
A 20mp costs about $100 cdn delivered - Then batteries (I prefer lithium, last much longer) and SD Cards (I have 2 for each and swap them out)

It’s a great hobby - I've learned a lot especially about fishers and marten.
Brian….(end of quote)

Most of the photos/videos Brian got are on Route 108 (the Renous Highway), north of Miramichi. He shares two recent ones he got of 2 Martens and a Fisher. Brian also did a write-up for the Giv‘er magazine, which can be accessed at the attached link, by scrolling a fair ways down until you come to his write-up. Check it out at the following link.

https://www.giverontheriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Early-Fall-Giver-2019-for-online.pdf

Brian also has five den boxes set up for Marten and Fisher, which the animals are indeed investigating. He sends a link to the site where he purchases the camera he uses. Check it out below.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XPX81KN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QaOFEb1THJ8B0

**Jean Renton reports that the bird activity has been very active at their Stilesville feeder yard over the past week, with a big variety of the regularly expected birds, but the sudden increase in PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré] has been the most notable.

**Brian Stone has had a 10-mm spider roaming about his home, to get some great photos. BugGuide has identified it as what is commonly called the BARN FUNNEL WEAVER [Tégénaire domestique] in North America, but is called the Domestic House Spider in Europe. They spin a sheet web that leads into a tubular retreat in a corner of a room or behind furniture. They rarely bite, but if they did, it’s painless. What gives them a bad reputation is their size, speed, and nocturnal habits. A female can live for several years, but males have only a few weeks with a female, dying after mating, and are often consumed by the female. The large palps in Brian’s photo suggest it to be a male, so he can expect a short existence if he encounters a female.

**We haven’t been hearing many reports from bird feeder yards. In my own Moncton yard, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] have dropped dramatically; AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] are reduced in number but still a notable number. MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle triste] are showing up any time now, instead of big numbers in the morning and late day, and are being seen copulating. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire] are much less in number, but are checking out two yard Nature Moncton nest boxes. HOUSE FINCH [Roselin familier] are in regular numbers; COMMON GRACKLES [Quiscale bronzé] and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS [Carouge à epaulettes] come and go, but not in big numbers. Regular Woodpeckers [Pic] come to suet and peanuts, but in lower numbers. A male AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d'Amérique] is very territorial with other Robins over the Mountain-ash [Sorbier des oiseaux] berries stored from fall, with some lively dogfights with its kin; however, it will let a Starling [Étourneau] feed on the berries with it at the same time. A first PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré] in some time has arrived; a few SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur] are present, but no raptors noted. BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu] are occasional and seem to be coming in waves. The CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier] that has been patronizing most of the winter continues to be present; however, the bill is not turning dark as yet. However, it is doing some wild wing-twitching, which I have not seen it do before.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton