NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, January
21, 2021 (Thursday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
**The NORTHERN SHRIKE is a songbird
that acts as a raptor when it comes to preying on smaller birds without the
help of powerful talons. Yolande LeBlanc got a very close-up observation of
shrike modus operandi on her Memramcook deck when a Northern Shrike suddenly
surprised an American Goldfinch by landing on it. The goldfinch tried to
escape. The shrike grabbed its prey by the back of the neck, a quick twist, and
all was over. The shrike than lifted off easily with its prey. It is not often
one would get the opportunity to observe shrike activity so near completing its
mission without the use of talons.
** The many folks who seek an audience with the SHORT-EARED OWLS [Hibou des marais] on the Riverview Marsh experience the 1000 + AMERICAN CROW [Corneille d'Amérique] assembly. Jim Carroll was at Point Park on January 15th. He observed the crow behavior between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. The crows gathered over the river near the shelter and mumurated in 2 large flocks as you would expect from a large flock of European Starlings. The 2 murmurations then merged and proceeded to blanket 5 or 6 very large trees in the City of Moncton where it would be assumed that they spent the night. Jim estimated the flocks to be at least 1000 birds and attaches a couple of photos.
** Georges Brun has followed the
activity of this crow aggregation over the years, commenting that they are
creatures of habit. They fly in from the Shediac Rd. area, the Dieppe Marsh
where the fire station is located, from Lakeburn, Chartersville, St. Anselme
and Fox Creek. You also have some coming in from Moncton and the McLaughlin Rd.
area. Before development in most of the area the crows would roost in the
evening in the tall spruce trees or other tall trees for their protection at
night. Georges comments that when the temperature gets warm in the winter and
the tall marsh grass acts as a protective barrier for the surface area ground
spiders journey from the marsh grass stalk area and move to another suitable
site for food or maybe ‘spring fever’ starts earlier for these individuals.
The area near the Trans-Aqua outlet compound
has been used as a staging area for the crows as they move along with a leader
deciding just where they will roost that evening. In the fall of the year they
gather in large numbers to peck at the side of the roadway to eat grubs. The
area is denuded once they are done with small holes just like a skunk would
leave behind after an evening on the ghost shift.
Georges also comments that a NORTHERN SHRIKE
[Pie-grièche grise] is often perched on the 3 patches of trees along the
Trans-Aqua roadway. These trees are aspen, birch, maple and choke cherry that
were planted there some 20 years ago for the birds as they migrate in the
south/north direction. A few weeks ago he photographed the shrike when visiting
the river near the Trans-Aqua compound and approximately 1 hour later he
returned and the shrike never moved from its perch. Other birds that use these perch
trees are Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, Short-eared Owls, Crows, Robins,
Redpolls, Pine Siskins and other Sparrows.
** I am attaching a link to a column
that I wrote up some time ago about crow roosts. If interested check it out at
the attached link.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bqwxnehbum7gi42/CROW%20ROOSTS....PUBLISHED%20DECEMBER%2011%2C2010.doc?dl=0
** Pat Gibbs shares a publication that
she came across called “Natural Wonder: Wing Clap Solves the Mystery of
Butterfly Flight”. You can read the publication at the link below.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55719955
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
